Larnaca tourism sector shows signs of recovery amid late August bookings

Larnaca’s tourism industry is experiencing a challenging summer season in 2026, primarily driven by regional instability due to the ongoing war in the Middle East. Marios Polyviou, president of the local hoteliers’ association (PASYXE Larnaca), reported that hotel occupancy saw a year-on-year decline of approximately 15% during July. While August began with a similar downward trend, the current occupancy rate stands at 75%, compared to 90% during the same period in 2025.

Despite the decline, local tourism bodies report an uptick in last-minute bookings which is expected to improve the final figures for August. Israel remains the primary tourist market for the city, with flight frequencies seeing a recovery, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in arrivals from Greece since July. While current occupancy remains below the 2025 peak, officials are hopeful that these late-season trends will mitigate earlier losses.

Looking ahead, local tourism authorities remain cautious regarding forecasts for the autumn months, citing ongoing geopolitical uncertainty. However, they expressed optimism for 2027 following the signing of new agreements with British partners, intended to bolster the city's future arrivals.