The decline in tourism in Cyprus will reach around 5% by the end of the year

The decline in tourism in Cyprus will reach around 5% by the end of 2026, Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis said. In the first seven months of the year, tourist arrivals fell by 8%.

Koumis recalled that the year began with record results: January and February were the best in the history of Cypriot tourism. The situation changed on 1 March, when around 70% of flight programmes to Cyprus were cancelled indefinitely literally overnight.

The Ministry of Tourism described it as a crisis unlike anything the industry had experienced in the past ten years. March and April proved to be the most difficult months.

According to the deputy minister, the government and the ministry urged airlines to maintain their flight programmes, and tour operators and industry partners not to remove Cyprus from their offerings. “Ultimately, after several months, we can say that we succeeded,” Koumis said.

Initial forecasts for the first quarter projected an 18% decline, but after seven months the decrease was limited to 8% and continues to narrow. The deputy minister stressed that fluctuations of this kind are natural for any industry.

Koumis made the remarks at the opening of new cycling routes in the Troulloi area of the municipality of Aradippou.