Cyprus tourism sector reports 7% decline in 2026 arrivals

During the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Cyprus Travel and Tourism Agents (ACTTA) held in Nicosia on October 8, 2026, officials discussed the current state of the tourism industry. Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis and ACTTA President Charis Papacharalambous announced that overall tourist arrivals have declined by 7% as of August 2026 compared to the previous year. Officials described this figure as a positive outcome, citing the resilience of the industry and effective government measures following the events at the British Bases in March.

Market data highlights significant shifts in visitor origins. While arrivals from general European markets dropped by 10% and the UK market—Cyprus's largest—saw a decline exceeding 10%, targeted markets like France and Italy experienced steeper losses of 36.5% and 33.5% respectively. These downturns have been partially offset by a surge in visitors from Israel, which has shown impressive growth over the last three to four months. Israel and the UK now account for approximately 50% of total tourist arrivals.

Industry stakeholders are currently looking toward new strategies, including a push for year-round tourism, as they navigate the search for new market balances. While the current reduction in arrivals is expected to see further de-escalation by the end of the year, the sector continues to monitor the impact of these fluctuating global market dynamics.