When rest of the world is still battling against the coronavirus pandemic and reeling under economic losses, destinations such as Cyprus, Cancun, Bulgeria and Sicily are offering attractive schemes to lure tourists.
Cyprus
To draw tourists back to its beaches, Cyprus has promised to take care of expenses for all its tourists. But there’s a catch. Cyprus will do so only if travellers happen to catch the coronavirus while on holiday in the country. Expenses that the country will pay for include hospital bills, drugs to treat the illness as well as food. The Mediterranean island nation will also take care of family members travelling with the patient at the time. Cyprus opened to international travellers on 9 June
Bulgaria
While it’s not offering a subsidised holiday like other destinations or refunding the cost of flight, the Bulgarian government plans to make a number of tourist hotspots free of charge. Free access to amenities such as sunbeds, umbrellas, tables and sun loungers at beaches, including the popular Sunny Beach, can make a trip more affordable and incentivise tourists to return. The average cost of a daily sun lounger on Bulgaria’s popular beaches is approximately £5 per person (around INR 500).
Cancun, Mexico
Over 200 private firms, including hotels and tourist businesses, in Mexico’s Cancún are offering free stays to revive the Caribbean destination’s tourism economy. According to local media reports, the Association of Hotels in Cancún, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres is promoting “Come to Cancun 2×1” with “two” as the theme of the initiative. For instance, two paid nights for accommodation get two free nights, or two days free car hire for every two days they book. It also includes a refund of the plane ticket price so visitors can bring a friend.
Sicily, Italy
To woo tourists, Sicily plans to fund part of their trips to the southern Italian island. With a sum of EURO50-million set aside, Sicily will cover half the cost of flights and a third of travellers’ hotel expenses, i.e. for every three nights you spend in the island’s hotels, one would be free of cost. The campaign also includes free entry to Sicily’s numerous museums and archeological sites, including the Temples of Agrigento and the Villa Romana del Casale. Manlio Messina, Sicily’s tourism director, said 400,000 vouchers are up for grabs for these discounts.