Cyprus remained one of the European Union’s most foreign-dependent tourism markets in the first quarter of 2026, with overseas visitors accounting for 85.6 per cent of all tourist overnight stays, according to Eurostat data released on Tuesday.
This figure places Cyprus second in the bloc, just behind Malta, where an impressive 93.3 per cent of overnight stays are attributed to foreign visitors. Following closely is Luxembourg, at 85.1 per cent, demonstrating a significant reliance on international tourism across these smaller nations.
In stark contrast, larger EU markets show a different trend. Germany recorded the lowest share of foreign visitor overnight stays at 19.9 per cent, with Poland and Romania following at 20.2 per cent and 22.4 per cent respectively. This disparity highlights how Cyprus’s tourism sector remains heavily dependent on international demand, particularly during the quieter winter months when domestic travel comprises a smaller portion of overall activity.
Examining monthly figures, Cyprus saw a steady increase in overnight stays: 368,639 in January, rising to 476,000 in February, and reaching 503,579 in March. When compared to the same months in 2025, January’s overnight stays increased by 14.43 per cent, while February saw a more robust growth of 32.17 per cent. However, March experienced a significant decline of 36.81 per cent year-on-year, affecting the overall quarterly performance.
On an EU-wide scale, tourist accommodation recorded 471.1 million overnight stays in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 3.4 per cent increase compared to the previous year. January accounted for 143.5 million overnight stays, a rise of 3.2 per cent, while February showed a similarly positive trend with 154.4 million stays, climbing by 3.4 per cent. March emerged as the strongest month in absolute terms, with 173.2 million overnight stays, reflecting a 3.7 per cent year-on-year increase.
Ireland saw the most significant quarterly increase among member states, with overnight stays soaring by 35.3 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2025. Malta followed with an 11.1 per cent growth, and Denmark recorded a 9.3 per cent rise. In contrast, nine EU countries experienced declines, with Lithuania facing the steepest drop at 12.9 per cent, followed by Romania at 6.7 per cent and Luxembourg at 3.8 per cent.
Across the bloc, foreign demand for overnight stays outpaced domestic travel. Eurostat reported that overnight stays by foreign visitors in the EU increased by 5.5 per cent year-on-year, while domestic overnight stays grew by just 1.7 per cent. Ireland again led this trend, with foreign visitor stays growing by an impressive 42.3 per cent, followed by Lithuania at 24.1 per cent and Slovakia at 15.4 per cent. Conversely, Latvia, Bulgaria, and Belgium reported declines of 7.5 per cent, 4.3 per cent, and 4 per cent respectively.
The data reflects ongoing trends in the tourism sector, highlighting the varying dependence on international visitors across different EU countries. As Cyprus continues to rely heavily on foreign tourists, the dynamics of its tourism market remain a focal point for the economy.
