Tourist arrivals in Cyprus for June 2026 totaled 489,965, a slight decrease of 1.7% compared to 498,527 in June 2025, according to CySTAT. This figure represents a 1.6% increase over June 2024 arrivals, which stood at 482,261.
From January to June 2026, Cyprus recorded 1,656,015 tourist arrivals, a 10.1% decline compared to 1,843,013 during the same period in 2025. Yet the 2026 half-year figure nearly equals that of 2024, which had 1,652,475 arrivals, indicating a recovery nearing pre-2025 levels.
June Surge in Israeli Tourist Arrivals Helps Contain Losses
Israeli tourist arrivals to Cyprus showed a dynamic increase in June 2026, with 80,343 visitors compared to 30,246 in June 2025,
marking a 165.7% rise. This surge also represents a 49.8% increase over May 2026 figures of 53,649. While Israeli arrivals dropped 8.6% in the first half of 2026 year-on-year (192,037 vs. 210,220), the sharp rebound in June helped offset overall declines linked to regional tensions in the Middle East.
Key Source Markets Show Mixed Performance
The United Kingdom remained Cyprus’s top tourism market, despite a 13.8% decrease in arrivals during the first half of 2026, with 539,415 arrivals compared to 626,004 in the same period of 2025. Poland was the only top market to record growth, with a 4.8% rise to 165,731 arrivals from 158,208 year-on-year.
Germany experienced a 6.9% decline in arrivals, dropping to 106,537 from 114,485 in the previous comparable period. Greece had 78,811 arrivals, down 7.5% from 85,224, while Sweden saw a smaller decrease of 3%, recording 64,391 arrivals compared to 66,394 in 2025.
The top 10 tourism markets were completed by Romania (35,418 arrivals), Austria (28,519), Hungary (23,494), and France (22,970) during the first half of 2026. Additionally, Cyprus attracted visitors from 21 other countries, though 13 countries reported no tourist arrivals in the same period.
Deputy Minister Confirms Sector Stability Amid Regional Challenges
Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis stated that the tourism sector in Cyprus “has returned to
a stable trajectory,” noting that the overall performance of June 2026 is “considered satisfactory under the circumstances,” referring to the effects of ongoing regional instability.
Tourism Sector Nears Recovery Despite Middle East Tensions
Despite a 10.1% decline in total arrivals during the first half of 2026 compared to 2025, the near parity with 2024 figures, especially following the significant recovery in Israeli visitation in June, signals a stabilizing tourism industry in Cyprus. The rebound in arrivals from Israel compensated for losses in other key markets amid the recent tensions in the Middle East.
