The limited 7% decline in Cyprus’ tourism revenue in the first seven months of 2026 is a positive development, Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis and President of the Association of Cyprus Travel and Tourism Agents (ACTTA), Charis Papacharalambous, have said, while highlighting the growing importance of the Israeli market, which, together with the UK, is expected to account for around half of tourist arrivals this year.
Speaking at ACTTA’s Annual General Meeting in Nicosia on 8 October, Papacharalambous said tourist arrivals from European countries had fallen by almost 10% in the first half of 2026, with the decline from the UK exceeding 10%.
France and Italy, both key target markets for Cyprus, recorded sharper falls of 36.5% and 33.5%, respectively.
However, he said the decline had been offset by a surge in arrivals from Israel, particularly over the past three to four months.
Based on current trends, Papacharalambous expects arrivals from Israel to reach between 650,000 and 700,000 this year.
Together with the UK, Israel is expected to account for approximately 50% of total arrivals, a level not seen since 2019, he said, warning that this would create new dependencies on individual markets.
Referring to 2025, Papacharalambous said nearly 4.5 million tourists had visited Cyprus, while just under two million Cyprus residents had travelled abroad, according to figures from the Statistical Service.
Greece was the most popular destination for outbound travel, accounting for 33% of trips, followed by the UK.
He predicted that the number of trips abroad by Cyprus residents would exceed two million in 2026.
Turning to inbound tourism, he said Cyprus had recorded a record 4.5 million arrivals in 2025, with 42% of visitors coming from EU countries and almost 81% from Europe as a whole.
Tourism revenue reached €3.7 billion, equivalent to approximately 14% of GDP, he said, adding that the contribution of the wider hospitality sector was close to 20%.
Total tourist arrivals rose by 12% in 2025, with the UK remaining Cyprus’ largest source market, recording growth of around 5% and accounting for nearly 32% of the total.
Israel was the second-largest market, with arrivals rising by 38% and accounting for 13% of inbound tourism.
Papacharalambous also said that developing year-round tourism was one of his main objectives.
Koumis points to tourism recovery and government measures
Addressing the meeting, Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis said the previous two years had been among the most successful in the history of Cyprus tourism, with record performances.
However, he stressed that developments in 2026 had served as a reminder that success in the tourism sector could never be taken for granted.
Koumis said government measures aimed at restoring Cyprus’ international reputation as a tourist destination, stepping up promotional campaigns and maintaining airline seat capacity and tour operators’ programmes had, in his view, helped the sector achieve a full recovery within a reasonable period.
He described the latest figures from the Statistical Service as particularly encouraging, noting that tourism revenue in the first seven months of 2026 was down by just 7% compared with the same period last year.
Revenue was also 9.2% higher than in 2024 and 13.8% above the 2023 level, he added.
Koumis said a key priority for the Deputy Ministry of Tourism was to further improve Cyprus’ tourism offering and strengthen the country’s competitiveness as a destination.
He called for a modern tourism model that would place greater emphasis on the visitor experience, showcase the authentic character of Cyprus and promote sustainable tourism development.
Such a model, he said, should also bring greater benefits to local communities and residents.
Also addressing the meeting, Secretary General of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Philokypros Roussounides, described tourism as a longstanding driving force of the Cypriot economy.
(Source: CNA)
