Cyprus tourism sector reports mixed results for mid-2026

In June 2026, Cyprus recorded a marginal increase in tourism revenue, reaching €423.1 million compared to €422.3 million in June 2025. This 0.2% growth follows a three-month period of decline, providing a slight reprieve for the industry. Despite this minor monthly uptick, the overall performance for the first half of 2026 remains negative, with total revenue at €1.221 billion, marking an 11.4% decrease from the €1.378 billion recorded in the same period of 2025.

Eurostat data further highlights the sector's challenges, noting that Cyprus experienced the largest decline in tourist overnight stays among EU countries during the first six months of 2026, with a drop of 7.7%. However, the country maintains a high dependency on international visitors, as non-residents accounted for 92.6% of all overnight stays, the second-highest proportion in the EU after Malta. A positive indicator amidst the downturn is the 2% increase in average per-capita spending, which rose to €863.62 in June 2026 from €847.01 in the previous year.

The decline in Cyprus contrasts with the broader European trend, where total tourist overnight stays across the EU grew by 1.7% in the first half of 2026. The data confirms that while individual tourist expenditure is increasing, the overall volume of visitors and nights spent remains significantly lower than the previous year's levels.