Cyprus is expected to get a boost in tourism this winter as a direct consequence of the crash of the Russian airliner in Egypt.

Haris Loizides, president of the Cyprus Hoteliers Association said that several hotels are extending their operational period to cope with demand by Russian tour operators after the near closure of  Sharm el-Sheik.

He said that Russian travel agencies have added up to fifteen flights per week for a period which may last until the end of March.

This may mean up to 20,000 additional tourists following the downing of the Russian plane over the Sinai on October 31 which resulted in the death of 224 people on board.

Loizides said that Russian travel agencies have been making arrangements to redirect a large number of cancelled packages to other destinations, such as Cyprus, Turkey and Spain.

He added that Turkey may get the larger portion of these packages, but Cyprus will benefit to a large extend, helping hoteliers to extend the tourist season beyond October and November.

"No one in Cyprus is glad that it will benefit by the demise of a friendly country such as Egypt, but such being the situation, the extra tourists are a welcome windfall," said Loizides.

Meanwhile, the CTO noted an increase in the number of Swiss flights to Cyprus bodes well for tourism arrivals from that country saying visitors from Switzerland topped the list in terms of per capita spending while holidaying here.