Tourist arrivals in Cyprus reached 489,965 in June 2026, representing a 1.7% decrease compared to 498,527 arrivals in June 2025, according to official data published on July 21, 2026. For the first half of 2026, arrivals totaled 1,656,015, marking a 10.1% decline against 1,843,013 arrivals during the January to June period of 2025. However, compared with 2024 figures, that represents a 1.6% increase for June and a 1.65% rise for the first six months, with 482,261 arrivals in June 2024 and 1,652,475 in the first half of that year.
June Surge in Israeli Tourist Arrivals
Israeli tourists accounted for 80,343 arrivals in June 2026, more than
doubling the 30,246 arrivals recorded in June 2025 and rising 49.8% compared to 53,649 arrivals in May 2026. Despite an 8.6% decrease in Israeli arrivals for the January to June period—192,037 compared to 210,220 in the same period of 2025—the strong June performance played a critical role in offsetting regional declines and stabilizing overall tourism numbers.
Tourism Trends from Other Key Markets
The United Kingdom remained Cyprus’ largest source market in the first half of 2026, with 539,415 arrivals, down 13.8% from 626,004 arrivals in January-June 2025. Poland showed growth with 165,731 arrivals, up 4.8% from 158,208 in 2025. Germany registered 106,537 arrivals, a 6.9% drop
from 114,485 arrivals the previous year. Greece accounted for 78,811 arrivals, decreasing 7.5% from 85,224 in 2025, while Sweden experienced a modest decline of about 3%, registering 64,391 arrivals versus 66,394 last year.
Additional major markets included Romania with 35,418 arrivals, Austria with 28,519, Hungary with 23,494, and France with 22,970 arrivals during the first half of 2026. Cyprus also welcomed tourists from 21 other countries, although 13 countries recorded no arrivals in that period.
Official Assessments of Tourism Recovery
Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis stated that current tourism figures confirm the sector’s return to a stable trajectory. He characterized June 2026’s performance as
satisfactory given the circumstances, according to www.cbn.com.cy. The official statistics were published by CySTAT, which tracks monthly and cumulative tourism data for Cyprus.
Tourism Context Amid Regional Challenges
The revival of tourism in Cyprus during 2026, particularly the dynamic return of Israeli visitors in June, helped mitigate losses linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The overall tourist arrival volume for the first six months closely approaches levels recorded in 2024, signaling recovery after two years of softer figures.
