Subscribe
This year’s summer tourism season in Cyprus has started with lower visitor numbers, according to the latest published statistics. This development should be a cause for serious concern among the relevant authorities and government bodies.
After all, tourism remains one of the most important pillars of the Cypriot economy.
According to figures released by the Cyprus Statistical Service, tourist arrivals in June 2026 declined by 1.7%, reaching 489,965 compared with 498,527 in June 2025.
At the same time, during the first half of the year (January–June 2026), tourist arrivals recorded a significant decrease of 10.1%, totaling 1,656,015 compared with 1,843,013 during the corresponding period in 2025.
It is worth noting, however, that the driving force behind Cyprus’s tourism industry continued to be visitors from the United Kingdom and Israel, which once again accounted for the largest share of tourists visiting the island.
Specifically, arrivals from the United Kingdom represented 33.0% (161,913) of total tourist arrivals. They were followed by visitors from Israel at 16.4% (80,343), Poland at 7.3% (35,871), Sweden at 5.5% (26,884), and Germany at 4.4% (21,587).
Tourism revenue also declines
As expected, the drop in tourist arrivals was accompanied by lower tourism revenues.
According to the latest published figures, tourism revenue in May 2026 amounted to €355.2 million, representing a 4.8% decrease compared with May 2025, when revenue reached €373.3 million.
For the first five months of the year (January–May 2026), tourism revenue totaled €798.2 million, compared with €955.8 million during the same period in 2025—a decline of 16.5%. This is a decrease that certainly cannot go unnoticed.
Who spends and how much
The average per capita expenditure of tourists in May 2026 amounted to €779.42, remaining virtually unchanged compared with May 2025 (€779.08).
More specifically, tourists from the United Kingdom—the island’s largest tourism market—spent an average of €102.23 per day. Israeli tourists, the second-largest market, spent an average of €178.18 per day, while Polish tourists, the third-largest market, spent €85.41 per day.
So, which tourists spent the most money in Cyprus? According to the published figures, the nationalities with the highest spending were as follows:
Daily Spending
Israelis: €178.18
Swiss: €137.41
Belgians: €136.56
Austrians: €117.11
Dutch: €113.80
Per Capita Spending
The term per capita expenditure refers to the average amount spent by each tourist over the course of their entire holiday, including all days spent in Cyprus.
Swiss: €975.62, with an average stay of 7.1 days
Dutch: €955.93, with an average stay of 8.4 days
British: €909.81, with an average stay of 8.9 days
Germans: €835.05, with an average stay of 8.0 days
Finns: €818.66, with an average stay of 8.4 days
Why tourists visit Cyprus
Another important aspect worth highlighting is the purpose of tourists’ visits to Cyprus.
It is important to note that the Cypriot tourism product still relies predominantly on sun and sea. Unfortunately, this dependence significantly limits tourist arrivals during the months outside the summer season.
According to the survey conducted by the Cyprus Statistical Service, the declared purpose of travel among tourists visiting Cyprus in June 2026 was as follows:
81.6% visited for holidays and leisure.
11.3% visited friends or relatives.
7.0% traveled for business purposes.
The most important goal for a country’s tourism product today is to attract visitors throughout the entire year, rather than only during the summer months, when there is already strong competition from other Mediterranean destinations that also offer sunshine and beaches.
Cyprus has the advantage of an extended summer season, thanks to the high temperatures that prevail on the island until November. This could attract a larger number of tourists from other European—and even non-European—countries.
However, is this enough? Cyprus has a rich and ancient history, which gives it the potential to attract visitors interested in both religious and cultural tourism.
What is needed is a series of well-planned initiatives and sustained, continuous efforts to fully capitalize on these opportunities.
Cyprus should therefore set long-term strategic goals to strengthen its tourism product and enable it to take the next step in its development.