US and UK revise travel advisories for Cyprus

The United States and the United Kingdom have officially lowered their travel risk assessments for Cyprus, effectively restoring the island to standard travel advisory levels. The US has placed Cyprus at Level 1, the lowest risk category, while the UK has removed specific warnings regarding regional tensions that were previously linked to incidents such as the drone activity at the British base in Akrotiri. Cypriot officials, including Deputy Tourism Minister Costas Koumis and representatives from tourism associations ACTTA, STEK, and PASYXE, have welcomed the move as a significant boost for the country's international image. While the tourism sector experienced a decline in arrivals during the first four months of 2026, officials reported that passenger traffic in May showed signs of stabilization. Industry experts remain cautiously optimistic, noting that the real impact on bookings will likely be observed over the next two to three weeks. Despite the upgrade, the US State Department continues to advise against entering the UN-patrolled buffer zone except at designated crossings. Tourism leaders emphasized the ongoing need to diversify tourism markets, noting that the British market remains the island's primary source of visitors.