Cyprus hosts 2.2 million tourists from January to July 2024

A total of 551,229 tourists visited Cyprus in July 2024, marking a rise of 5.3 per cent from the 523,718 visitors recorded in the same month last year, according to a report released on Monday by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat).

Over the period from January to July 2024, Cyprus welcomed 2,203,704 tourists, showing an upswing of 3.1 per cent when compared to 2,137,408 in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The UK continues to lead as the predominant source of tourists, contributing a significant 33.9 per cent (186,751) of the total arrivals.

Other notable contributions came from Israel at 12.9 per cent (71,238), Poland at 6.4 per cent (35,456), Sweden at 4.3 per cent (23,511), and Germany at 3.8 per cent (20,726). 

In terms of the purpose of travel in July 2024, holidays were the main reason, attracting 88.7 per cent of the tourists, a slight increase from 85.4 per cent in July 2023. 

Those visiting friends or relatives dipped to 8.6 per cent from 11.3 per cent the previous year, while business travel also saw a minor decrease, making up 2.7 per cent of the total, down from 3.3 per cent in 2023. 

Equally, trips abroad by Cyprus residents in July 2024 experienced a decline, with 171,382 venturing overseas, a 7.0 per cent drop from 184,335 in July 2023.

Greece remains the most popular destination, accounting for 40.1 per cent (68,805) of these trips, followed by the UK at 11.1 per cent (18,987) and Italy at 4.8 per cent (8,191).

For Cypriot residents travelling abroad in July 2024, the majority of trips were for holiday purposes, accounting for 74.4 per cent of the total.

Finally, business trips comprised 12.1 per cent, 11.9 per cent were for study purposes, while a small fraction, 1.5 per cent, was for other reasons.