Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis used the release of June visitor statistics on Friday to declare that “the extraordinary turbulence of spring is now behind us and the sector has regained its balance”. Speaking after the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) confirmed a modest 1.7 per cent year-on-year drop in June arrivals to 489,965, Koumis argued that the figure demonstrates resilience given the regional air-space closures that upended flight schedules in March and April. From January to June, the island welcomed 1.66 million tourists—10.1 per cent fewer than in 2025 but marginally above 2024 levels. Koumis highlighted the fact that the United Kingdom remains the main market (33 per cent share), followed by Israel (16 per cent) and Poland (7 per cent). He stressed that targeted co-marketing with airlines and tour operators, quick incentives for replacing cancelled Middle-East capacity with European charters, and price promotions in shoulder months have all helped narrow the annual gap. Business-travel volumes provided a bright spot: Cystat data show the share of visitors coming for conferences and corporate meetings edged up from 5.6 per cent last June to 7 per cent this year. Hotel groups in Limassol and Nicosia reported strong occupancy around fintech and shipping events, underlining the government’s twin strategy of pursuing quality over quantity and courting location-independent companies via the digital-nomad visa scheme. Looking ahead, Koumis said the deputy ministry will “double-down on connectivity”, pressing airlines to extend the winter schedule and promoting cruise-and-stay packages that combine Cyprus with Israel and Egypt once regional security conditions allow. A working group has also been set up with the migration department to streamline arrival-card procedures and minimise queues at Larnaca and Paphos during the August peak. Sector stakeholders welcomed the cautiously optimistic tone but warned that higher operating costs and potential fuel-surcharge increases could weigh on autumn bookings. The Hoteliers Association called for quicker deployment of EU recovery funds earmarked for energy-efficiency upgrades, arguing that lower utility bills are essential to keep packages competitively priced.
Source: Cyprus Mail
