Tourist arrivals in Cyprus reached 489,965 in June 2026, slightly down by 1.7% from 498,527 in June 2025, according to CySTAT data. For the first half of 2026, arrivals totaled 1,656,015, a 10.1% decline compared to 1,843,013 in January-June 2025. However, arrivals increased by 1.6% in June and 1.65% for the first half compared to the same periods in 2024.
Sharp Increase in Israeli Tourist Arrivals in June 2026
Israeli arrivals in June 2026 surged to 80,343, more than doubling from 30,246 in June 2025 and rising 49.8% from 53,649 in May 2026. Despite a decrease in Israeli tourist numbers for the first half of the year—192,037 arrivals compared
to 210,220 in 2025—June’s strong rebound aided the sector’s recovery.
Tourist Arrivals from Key European Markets
The United Kingdom maintained its position as Cyprus’ largest tourism market with 539,415 arrivals in the first half of 2026, down 13.8% from 626,004 in 2025. Poland registered growth, with 165,731 arrivals, up 4.8% from 158,208. Germany saw a 6.9% decrease, totaling 106,537 arrivals compared to 114,485 in the previous year. Greece recorded 78,811 arrivals, a 7.5% drop from 85,224, while Sweden arrivals fell about 3% to 64,391 from 66,394.
Other notable markets include Romania with 35,418 arrivals, Austria with 28,519, Hungary with 23,494, and France with 22,970 tourists in
the first half of the year. Cyprus also attracted visitors from 21 additional countries, while 13 countries recorded no arrivals during this period.
Official Commentary and Data Source
Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis stated that June arrivals confirm Cyprus’ tourism sector has returned to a stable trajectory, deeming the monthly performance satisfactory given current circumstances. CySTAT provided the official arrival figures for both June and the first half of 2026.
Impact of Middle East Situation on Tourism
The ongoing situation in the Middle East contributed to the overall decline in tourist arrivals compared to 2025. The significant upturn in tourists from Israel in June 2026 was a critical factor in limiting
the sector’s losses during this period. Despite the regional challenges, overall arrivals in 2026 approached or exceeded 2024 levels, demonstrating resilience in Cyprus’ tourism industry.
