The impact on tourism from recent developments in the region remains manageable so far, Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis emphasized on Friday during a meeting with the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Cyprus, Abdullah Alturki, which took place ahead of the resumption, on July 2, 2026, of direct flights between the two countries, with the Deputy Minister noting that the resumption of direct flights “creates positive prospects for further strengthening tourism ties between the two countries”.

According to a statement from the Deputy Ministry, Mr. Koumis stated that the Deputy Ministry of Tourism is closely monitoring developments and continuously evaluating the data, adding that so far, the impact on tourism remains manageable, as May arrivals recorded a modest decline of 4.9% compared to the same period in 2025, while they continue to remain at levels comparable to those of 2024.

At the same time, it is noted that “he expressed his optimism regarding the market’s positive trajectory, noting that the Deputy Ministry will continue to closely monitor developments in air connections.”

According to the announcement, during the meeting with the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Cyprus, which took place at the offices of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in Nicosia, views were exchanged on tourism relations between Cyprus and Kuwait, with particular emphasis on the resumption of direct flights between the two countries and the prospects for further strengthening air connectivity.

Jazeera Airways’ direct flights will resume on July 2, 2026, and will operate through September 3, 2026, with three flights per week.

According to the announcement, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continuing close cooperation, expressing optimism that the resumption of direct air service represents yet another positive step toward the further development of tourism and the strengthening of bilateral relations between Cyprus and Kuwait.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism noted that, given the excellent relations between Cyprus and Kuwait, it is important to continue efforts to further boost tourism interest between the two countries, with the aim of both increasing the frequency of direct flights and extending the duration of the flight schedule.

For his part, the Ambassador of the State of Kuwait thanked the Deputy Minister for the meeting and reiterated that Cyprus is a safe and attractive destination for Kuwaiti citizens.

At the same time, he expressed his conviction that the resumption of direct flights will contribute significantly to further strengthening relations between the two countries, both in the tourism and investment sectors.

Source: CNA