cyprus tourism — Cyprus’ tourism sector has achieved remarkable success, with its share of GDP climbing to 14% in 2025, up from 13.1% the previous year. Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis announced this milestone during the presentation of the Deputy Ministry’s annual report, highlighting the industry’s resilience in the face of ongoing challenges and a shifting international landscape.
In a record-breaking year, tourist arrivals exceeded 4.5 million, marking an impressive year-on-year increase of 12.2% and a staggering 41.6% rise over the last three years. This surge in visitors has significantly bolstered the sector’s economic contributions, with total revenues soaring to €9.9 billion between 2023 and 2025.
The financial landscape appears robust as well, with revenues in the January–November period of 2025 showing a substantial 15.3% increase from the previous year and a dramatic 51.1% rise over the past three years. Average spending per visitor also saw an uptick, rising to €822 from €799—a 2.9% increase—while daily spending reached €99.5, reflecting a 7.2% increase.
Despite a slight decline in the average length of stay, which fell by 4% to 8.27 days, projections indicate that overnight stays will reach approximately 18.5 million, up 3.3% from the previous year. Koumis noted that tourism’s performance has been a vital factor in supporting overall economic growth, estimated at 3.75% for 2025, significantly above the Eurozone average of 1.5%.
Reflecting on the period from 2022 to 2025, Koumis emphasised the successful recovery of the tourism sector following the downturn in 2022. With the primary objective of restoring tourism to its peak achieved, he highlighted the need for the sector to evolve, focusing on enhancing quality and improving the overall visitor experience.
To support this vision, 13 incentive schemes were initiated in 2025, including four funded through the recovery and resilience plan. These initiatives are expected to reach total allocations of nearly €20 million, with 153 projects aimed at revitalising less developed areas, supported by up to €7 million. Additionally, 48 businesses received approvals amounting to €6.9 million for upgrading accommodations in rural and remote areas.
Investment in the sector extends to restaurants and traditional shops, which received €1.3 million for upgrades, alongside €1.2 million allocated for seven health and wellness tourism projects. Other parallel schemes focus on digital transition, conference travel, sports events, diving certification, and improvements to beaches and traditional crafts.
In a progressive move for the future, the update of the National Tourism Strategy 2035 has been finalised, and plans for a comprehensive digital application designed to enhance the visitor experience are underway in collaboration with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation. Specialised tourism segments are also gaining attention, with a 3D mapping project for diving sites and ongoing studies into health and nature tourism.
Agritourism has made notable strides, attracting over 90,000 arrivals in 2025—a 3% increase year-on-year and a 40.9% increase over three years. Meanwhile, cruise tourism has flourished, with passenger numbers jumping 104% to 278,000 compared to 136,000 in 2024.
Looking ahead to 2026, Koumis described Cyprus’ presidency of the EU Council as a pivotal year for tourism, with over 30,000 conference participants expected. The Deputy Ministry is set to coordinate hospitality and excursions for around 250 conferences. As the presiding country, Cyprus will also submit Council Conclusions on tourism in May 2026, contributing insights from the Transition Pathway for Tourism and the European Agenda for Tourism 2030.
On the legislative front, a bill regulating diving tourism has been proposed, along with draft legislation for catering and entertainment venues. In an effort to foster international collaboration, Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) have been signed with Israel and Saudi Arabia, paving the way for future tourism partnerships.
