What the data from 2023 reveals, what the “performance figures” fail to capture, and what questions remain unanswered
In the Cypriot tourism sector, the word “record” has become a staple of official announcements. More arrivals, higher revenues, best month on record—these are phrases frequently invoked to confirm ongoing success.
Behind these figures, however, lies a more complex reality. The same statistics show shorter lengths of stay, different travel purposes, and uneven performance across markets. At the same time, the regional crisis is affecting both vacations and travel for security reasons.
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A Closer Look at the Numbers
We need to make it clear from the outset that the data from the Statistical Service do not negate the growth of previous years.
The question is what exactly these increases measure and to what extent they justify the general impression of success.
First of all, it’s important to note that tourist arrivals measure visits, not unique individuals—meaning the same person can be counted more than once in a given year.
Nor does the statistical term “tourist” refer exclusively to vacationers.
In 2025, 79.8% of visitors cited vacation as their purpose, 13.1% cited visiting friends or relatives, and 7% cited business reasons.
All of these categories are part of tourism, but they do not entail the same demand for hotels, organized packages, or recreational services. Presenting every arrival as an additional hotel guest oversimplifies reality.
Are the occupied territories included in the count?
The issue of visitors arriving via the Republic’s airports and heading to the occupied territories requires similar attention. There have been previous statements from tourism officials that a portion of arrivals is directed to the occupied areas or to short-term rental accommodations.
The two scenarios, however, are not economically equivalent. In other words, staying in a rental apartment in the free areas can generate local income, even when it does not boost hotel bookings.
It is worth noting that the arrival questionnaire includes a separate option for accommodation in the occupied areas. This indicates that the information is being collected. However, it does not, on its own, explain how this is accounted for in the final calculation of published tourist arrivals.
Therefore, a clear distinction is needed between those who stay exclusively there and those who split their overnight stays. Without this clarification, we cannot arbitrarily subtract a percentage from the official totals, nor can we consider every crossing of a checkpoint to be a lost overnight stay in the free zones.
Shorter stays, higher revenue
Beyond the definitions, the economic indicators paint a less triumphant picture.
Per-capita spending rose by 4.8%, compared with a 23.6% increase in total revenue. A large part of the increase in revenue is therefore linked to the higher number of visits. Daily spending increased, but the length of stay decreased, while additional expenses per visit rose by only 2.1% over two years. These are nominal amounts, not adjusted for inflation. They do not indicate a corresponding increase in consumption in real terms or higher net profits for businesses.
The impact of prices cannot be considered negligible. As for the figures for 2024, harmonized inflation in Cyprus stood at 2.3%, while in the “Restaurants and Hotels” category, the increase reached 5.5%. Therefore, the higher revenues must also be viewed in the context of price increases.
Records and Losses
The data for 2026 reveal even more clearly the limits of reporting records. September closed with 580,889 tourist arrivals, up 1.8% compared to 2025. In the first nine months of the year, however, 3,401,538 arrivals were recorded, compared to 3,604,790. That is 203,252 fewer visits and a 5.6% decline. The improvement is evident, as the annual decline was limited to 0.9% in the third quarter, down from 10.6% in the second. However, this represents a limitation of the losses, not a complete recovery.
In recent statements, the Deputy Minister of Tourism asserted that “The results confirm a very promising trend and the effectiveness of the measures taken by the tourism ecosystem.”
He acknowledged the decline over the nine-month period; however, the key issue is the transition from the improvement of a single indicator to the confirmation of the policy’s effectiveness. Arrivals reflect the result of many factors; on their own, they do not isolate the contribution of government actions.
Similarly, the description of September as “the most productive September in the history of Cypriot tourism in terms of arrivals” is explicitly limited to the number of visits. Economic performance, however, is not derived from this figure.
According to available data, revenue figures are available through July (for the first seven months, revenue fell by approximately 7% to €1.758 billion, a decrease of €133.3 million). July saw a 4.6% increase in revenue, despite a 1.1% decline in arrivals. The picture is improving, but remains mixed.
Which markets are driving the growth?
The picture from previous years shows, however, that growth was not limited to just one market, as shown in the table below.
The United Kingdom remained the largest market, with 1.44 million arrivals in 2025. However, its share declined from 33.9% in 2023 to 31.8%, as other markets grew more rapidly. These differences illustrate why overall performance needs to be examined by country of origin as well.
Even more telling is the breakdown of September’s growth. Arrivals from Israel rose from 80,115 to 105,249—an increase of 25,134—while the total increase was just 10,254.
The remaining markets combined recorded a decline of approximately 3%. France fell by 48.9%, Germany by 11.6%, and Poland by 7.5%. Consequently, this positive trend does not indicate a widespread recovery in demand—especially from countries we have been targeting for years to attract tourism.
The differences between markets are not limited to the number of arrivals.
The length of stay significantly affects this comparison. Visitors from Romania and Germany had similar daily spending but different total spending per visit because they stayed for a different number of nights. Consequently, the growth of a market cannot be assessed solely on the basis of how many visitors arrived, without considering how long they stayed and how much they spent.
Neighboring Turmoil
The Israeli market had already grown from 410,607 arrivals in 2023 to 588,833 in 2025. At the same time, Cyprus has served as a temporary stopover and transit point during periods of military tension. International media outlets such as the Associated Press reported in June 2025 on people fleeing Israel, as well as Israelis attempting to return there via Cyprus. This demonstrates a situational role as a refuge and transit point, not necessarily consistent tourist demand.
The broader context includes the genocide in Gaza, as characterized by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, and regional conflicts that trigger security-driven displacement.
However, the available data do not specify how many of the arrivals in Cyprus due to these conflicts are included in the tourism arrivals. Therefore, we cannot determine to what extent the growth in the Israeli market is linked to war-related travel.
There is a crucial finding here. The Statistical Service’s questionnaire includes a specific code for “Arrival due to armed conflict.” Therefore, it is not substantiated to assume that everyone who seeks refuge in Cyprus is recorded as a vacationer.
Furthermore, in the 2025 annual table, 524,209 of the 588,833 tourist arrivals from Israel are classified as vacationers—approximately 89%. The key question is how many arrivals were recorded under the specific code and how they are distinguished from tourism.
So, these records need context. How many overnight stays are generated, where do they take place, how much money stays in the local economy, and how stable is the demand?
Arrival and revenue tables alone do not provide answers regarding wages, profitability, benefit distribution, or pressure on infrastructure. The growth of previous years is measurable. Turning that growth into proof of qualitative and sustainable success requires more than just another month that’s being hailed as historic.
