Cyprus tourism sector faces mixed results with revenue stability despite overall decline in stays

Cyprus recorded a 0.2 per cent increase in tourism revenue during June 2026, reaching €423.1 million despite a 1.7 per cent decline in tourist arrivals to 489,965. While revenue remained stable due to higher average spending per visitor—which rose 2 per cent to €863.62—the broader performance for the first half of the year remains weak, with revenue dropping 11.4 per cent to €1.22 billion compared to the same period in 2025.

Data from Eurostat highlights further challenges, showing that Cyprus experienced the largest decline in overnight stays within the European Union during the first half of 2026, falling by 7.7 per cent. This contrasts with a 1.7 per cent increase across the EU as a whole. While Cyprus remains heavily dependent on foreign visitors, who account for 92.6 per cent of its overnight stays, the shortened average stay of 8.2 days and a drop in major markets, such as the United Kingdom, reflect a cooling trend in the sector.