In August 2026, Cyprus registered 581,880 tourist arrivals, down 3.3% from 602,026 arrivals in the same month of 2025. The United Kingdom led as the top source country, accounting for 30.5% of arrivals (177,603 visitors), followed by Israel with 23.3% (135,628), Poland 6.3% (36,622), Germany 4.4% (25,823), and Sweden 3.0% (17,441). Holiday travel dominated, comprising 84.5% of visits, with 13.0% visiting friends or relatives and 2.4% traveling for business.
For the January to August 2026 period, tourist arrivals totaled 2,820,649, a 7.0% decrease compared to 3,034,155 in the same period of 2025. Meanwhile, 239,337 residents returned to Cyprus after trips
abroad in August 2026, a slight increase of 0.3% over 238,740 resident returns recorded in August 2025. Greece was the primary destination for returning residents with 36.6% (87,684), followed by the United Kingdom (6.9%, 16,448), Italy (4.6%, 11,054), Poland (4.3%, 10,408), and Russia (4.2%, 10,021). Among returning residents, 93.1% traveled for holidays, 5.9% for business, 0.8% for studies, and 0.2% for other reasons.
Data Collection and Methodology
The presented data were collected through the Passenger Survey conducted at Larnaka and Pafos airports and supplemented by administrative records from monthly arrivals at ports. The statistics reflect travelers passing through passport control at government-controlled ports and
airports in Cyprus, excluding arrivals and departures via occupied areas. Weighting adjustments were based on information from the Civil Aviation Department’s flight records, ship manifests, and analysis from the Cyprus Police’s Statistics Office. Tourists are defined as visitors staying at least one night, while residents are those living in Cyprus for at least 12 months or intending such a stay before traveling.
Tourism and Resident Travel Patterns
United Kingdom and Israel remain the leading markets for inbound tourism to Cyprus. Most tourists visit for holiday purposes, while a smaller share travels to visit friends or relatives or for business. Resident return travel trends show Greece
as the principal destination, consistent with historical ties, followed by the United Kingdom and Italy. The dominance of holiday travel persists among residents returning from abroad, accounting for over 90% of trips.
