Cypriot tourism continued its impressive performance of recent months, and even years, both in July and in the first seven months of the year, breaking every record for the umpteenth time.
According to the latest data published by CySTAT, tourist arrivals in July amounted to 589,116 compared to 551,229 in the corresponding month last year, recording an increase of 6.9%.
For the period January-July, tourist arrivals amounted to 2,432,129 compared to 2,203,704 in the corresponding period of 2024, showing an increase of 10.4%.
Both performances - for July and for the seven months - are the best ever and constitute new records for Cyprus tourism, which, despite various challenges, remains resilient.
However, from an analysis of the statistical data, it appears that more than half of the tourists who arrived in Cyprus in the first seven months come from the three main tourist markets, namely the United Kingdom, Israel and Poland.
Additionally, both in July and the seven-month period, significant fluctuations in tourist arrivals from various countries are recorded, with some of them recording an increase of more than 40%.
An 'X-ray' of the arrivals
More specifically, and based on the data, the United Kingdom remained the leading tourist market for Cyprus by a significant margin, both in July and in the seven-month period.
In more detail, tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom amounted to 189,730 in July compared to 186,751 last year, showing an increase of 1.6%, while in the January-July period they amounted to 815,734 compared to 755,562 in the corresponding period last year, recording an increase of 8%.
The second main tourist market for the country is Israel, with arrivals in July amounting to 76,557 compared to 71,238 last year, recording an increase of 7.5%, while in the first seven months of this year they amounted to 286,777 compared to 230,921 in the corresponding period last year, presenting a significant increase of 24.2%.
Poland follows closely in third place, with tourist arrivals in July reaching 43,713 compared to 35,456 last year, showing an increase of 23.3%, and in the seven months to 201,921 compared to 182,380 in the period January-July 2024, recording an increase of 10.7%.
Germany is now consolidated in fourth place, as arrivals in July amounted to 23,694 compared to 20,726 last year, showing an increase of 14.3%, while in the seven months they amounted to 138,179 compared to 121,912 in the corresponding period last year, recording an increase of 13.3%.
In contrast to the aforementioned countries that recorded an increase, Greece was in fifth place, with arrivals limited to 13,383 in July compared to 16,888 last year (a decrease of 20.8%) and to 98,605 in the seven months compared to 108,357 in the period January-July 2024 (a decrease of 9%).
Other main markets
One place below, in sixth place, was Sweden, with arrivals showing a negative sign in July and a positive sign in the seven months. More specifically, Swedish arrivals amounted to 20,455 in July compared to 23,511 last year, showing a decrease of 13%, while in the first seven months of the year they amounted to 86,849 compared to 81,680 last year, recording an increase of 6.3%.
Romania was in seventh place with arrivals amounting to 17,000 compared to 13,751 last year, showing an increase of 23.6% and to 58,394 in the seven months compared to 47,540 in the January-July period, recording an increase of 22.8%.
France was in eighth place, with arrivals in July amounting to 12,648 compared to 14,076 in the corresponding month last year, recording a decrease of 10.14%, and in the seven months to 44,545 compared to 53,934 in the corresponding period last year, showing a decrease of 17.4%.
In ninth place was Austria, which presents an ambiguous picture. Specifically, in July, Austrian arrivals amounted to 12,295 compared to 12,510 last year, showing a decrease of 1.7%, while in the seven months they amounted to 44,120 compared to 38,910 in the corresponding period last year, showing an increase of 13.4%.
Denmark completes the top ten with the main markets attracting tourists, with arrivals in July reaching 14,857 compared to 14,136 last year, showing an increase of 5%, and in the seven months to 39,478 compared to 34,313 in the period January-July 2024, recording an increase of 15%.
The largest increases came from Russia and the Netherlands
In addition to the above data, further analysis of CySTAT's data shows that the largest increases in arrivals were recorded by Dutch and Russian tourists.
Based on the data, tourist arrivals from the Netherlands amounted to 8,630 in July compared to 5,980 last year, showing an increase of 44.3%, and in the seven months to 38,369 compared to 27,275 in the corresponding period last year, recording an increase of 40.7%.
At the same time, arrivals from Russia amounted to 8,207 in July compared to 4,299 last year, showing an increase of 90.9%, and in the seven months to 35,411 compared to 25,170 in the corresponding period last year, recording an increase of 40.7%.
Arrivals from the USA
Finally, with regard to US arrivals, they amounted to 10,051 in July compared to 8,370 last year, showing an increase of 20.1%, and in the seven months to 34,976 compared to 28,376 in the corresponding period last year, recording an increase of 23.3%.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
