Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, has described 2025 as a very successful year for the tourism industry and said that there has been a new record as regards arrivals from the German market after 28 years.
In statements to journalists on 28 December during a visit to the Christmas village in the Statos-Ayios Fotios community in Paphos, Koumis also referred to the international distinctions of Cyprus tourism in 2025.
"For years now, the German market was the largest in the world in terms of outbound tourism," the Deputy Minister explained, replying to a question regarding the connectivity of Cyprus airports with Germany. He noted that Germany was a small market for Cyprus and that the best performance of the German market was, until recently, 250,000 arrivals recorded in 1997.
“This year, for the first time, we broke the German market record,” the Deputy Minister noted, adding that “we have essentially achieved a new performance after 28 years. It is a market that interests us the most and in cooperation with the sector we have proceeded in a series of actions, in order to promote this market even more,” he noted.
Koumis also noted the importance of the improvement of the air connectivity of the German market with both airports in Cyprus.
The most important thing, he said, is that German visitors like to visit various sites of the island. We are very interested in seeing the benefits of tourism spread throughout Cyprus, he went on to say.
Cyprus tourism distinguished at a European level in 2025
“In my personal opinion, 2025 will go down in history as a year when Cyprus’ tourism reached a high level in Europe ,” Koumis said, adding that 2025 saw a significant increase in arrivals, exceeding 12% compared to the previous year and 40% over a three-year period.
Moreover, he pointed out that "we have surpassed all precedents in terms of tourism revenue'.
He also referred to the Aviation Council International report which noted that Cyprus ranks first in Europe as regards improvement of its air connectivity in 2025 compared to 2024, while Cyprus ranks second at European level in matters of improving air connectivity in 2025 compared to 2019. Moreover, Cyprus ranks first in relation to the increase in revenue for the first half of the year, among Mediterranean countries.
According to the report, Cyprus also had the largest increase in overnight stays in tourist accommodation in 2024 compared to 2023.
"The most important thing for the government is that our country's tourism businesses have recorded another very successful year, a year that enables them to acquire the much-desired economic resilience, which is linked to competitiveness," Koumis said, noting that businesses of the tourism industry are essentially competing with other tourism businesses in other parts of the world.
(Source: CNA)
