Cyprus tourism sector reports growth in September 2026

Tourist arrivals in Cyprus reached 580,889 in September 2026, marking a 1.8% increase compared to 570,635 arrivals in September 2025. This growth represents the first monthly increase since March 2026, following a period of decline caused by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The United Kingdom remained the primary source of tourism, accounting for 31.7% (184,345) of arrivals, followed by Israel at 18.1% (105,249), Poland at 7.2% (41,636), and Germany at 5.2% (30,362).

Despite the positive performance in September, the cumulative figures for the first nine months of 2026 show a 5.6% decrease, with 3,401,538 total arrivals compared to 3,604,790 during the same period in 2025. Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis described September as the most successful month in the history of Cypriot tourism in terms of arrivals, noting that the overall nine-month period represents the second-best performance on record. The government continues to emphasize the effectiveness of its strategic planning in stabilizing the tourism ecosystem following the crises earlier in the year.

Simultaneously, travel by Cyprus residents abroad decreased slightly by 0.4% in September to 165,447 trips, with Greece remaining the most popular destination for local travelers.