Mark and Judy opted to visit the hotspot off-season and could be seen enjoying a leisurely stroll through the main strip “days before the tourists arrive”, but the destination could face a struggle this summer
Mark and Judy took a stroll through the main strip ‘days before the tourists arrive’(Image: Gypsy Souls/YouTube
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Two sun-seeking Brits who visited a holiday hotspot facing a decline in tourism have remarked that they’d “return in an instant”. Mark and Judy were recently blown away by the peaceful, crowd-free scenes greeting them in the eastern Cypriot resort town of Protaras.
Protaras is known for its crystalline waters, breathtaking beaches and booming nightlife, being just a short, 17-minute drive from the premier European party capital of Ayia Napa. Mark and Judy opted to visit the hotspot off-season and could be seen enjoying a leisurely stroll through the main strip “days before the tourists arrive”.
In a recent vlog for their YouTube channel, Gypsy Souls, they kicked off proceedings by mentioning that local businesses were starting to “open up for the season”, with Mark remarking that they were “coming out of hibernation”. Setting off in search of a drink to beat the heat, the pair departed from their location near a fountain and a prominent Protaras sign.
Judy gave viewers a lay of the land, pointing out Easter egg statues and highlighting the nearby Capo Bay Hotel and the route to the stunning Fig Tree beach. As they made their way down the street, Judy noted that the businesses in sight were “quite closed”, but they detected the welcoming aroma of food and heard “tunes thumping”.
Hotel bookings to the country have fallen 40% after the recent conflict in Iran, but the couple said the emptiness they witnessed was simply down to it being off-peak.
Judy went on to explain that their viewers had recommended some bars to them. But, seemingly highlighting a downside to off-season travel, Judy sadly pointed out that some weren’t yet open. Not to be disheartened, though, she noted that some still were, specifically the Greenery.
Once they reached the end of the road, Mark and Judy turned around and headed back, drawing the viewers’ attention to more closed businesses on the other side of the street. Judy said: “We’re hoping that by the time we go, some of these will start to open. So, as we come into the end of our time here, hopefully, they should all start to open, and you’ll be able to see the transformations.”
Mark and Judy eventually found their way to the Greenery, where Mark enjoyed a pint and they shared a kebab and chips. Summing up their off-season experience, they told the Mirror: “We had a wonderful holiday and would return in an instant.” As Cyprus prepares for the looming holiday season, however, reports indicate that many tourists will be avoiding the Mediterranean island this year.
Hotel bookings are reportedly down by 40% as US and Israeli-led military action in Iran continues. As part of the so-called Operation Epic Fury, the two countries launched a bombing campaign against the Middle Eastern nation on February 28, with the conflict still ongoing.
In response, Iran launched widespread retaliatory strikes on its Gulf neighbours and blocked passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Earlier this month, a pro-Iranian militia launched a drone attack on RAF Akrotiri, a British base in Cyprus.
AirDNA figures show that cancellation rates for short-term rentals in Cyprus surged from about 15% before the conflict to as much as 100 per cent in the days after the war began. According to the Daily Mail, about a third of Cyprus’ tourists are British travellers, with four million international visitors travelling to the island in 2025 in total.
Chris Webber, head of holidays and deals at TravelSupermarket, told the outlet: ‘When global events change holiday plans, we tend to see travellers pivot quickly. The Caribbean is a natural beneficiary. What’s striking here isn’t just the overall jump in searches, but how broadly that interest is spread. Destinations like Turks and Caicos and Tobago aren’t typically where British holidaymakers look first, so to see them surging suggests people are still keen to try somewhere new.”