Cyprus tourism revenue falls as war in the Middle East depresses arrivals
Drop in UK arrivals, among other markets, hits Cyprus tourism revenue Cyprus' tourism revenue fell by 4. 8 per cent in May 2026 as the war in Iran depressed visitor arrivals, particularly from the island's primary tourist market, despite average spending per visitor remaining broadly unchanged. Specifically, revenue from tourism reached…
Drop in UK arrivals, among other markets, hits Cyprus tourism revenueCyprus’ tourism revenue fell by 4. 8 per cent in May 2026as thewar in Iran depressed visitor arrivals, particularly from the island’s primary tourist market, despite average spending per visitor remaining broadly unchanged. Specifically, revenue from tourism reached€355. 2 million in May 2026, compared with€373. 3 millionin the same month of 2025, according to figures released on Thursday by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat). The figures come aftertourist arrivals in May also declined, largely due to the continuing impact of regional instability, particularly the conflict in the Middle East, which has affected the sector during 2026. For theJanuary to May 2026period, tourism revenue is estimated at€798. 2 million, compared with€955. 8 millionduring the corresponding period of 2025, representing a16. 5 per cent decrease. At the same time,average expenditure per tourist remained virtually unchanged, standing at€779. 42in May 2026 compared with€779. 08a year earlier. Visitors from theUnited Kingdom remained Cyprus’ largest tourist market, accounting for36. 3 per centof all arrivals during May 2026. British tourists spent an average of€909. 81 per personduring their stay, down from€948. 39in May 2025. However, theiraverage daily expenditure increasedto€102. 23, compared with€97. 77in the corresponding month last year. The number of visitors from the United Kingdom fell to165,600in May 2026 from179,150a year earlier. Theiraverage stay also shortened, declining to8. 9 daysfrom9. 7 daysin May 2025. Israel remained the second largest source market, representing11. 8 per centof total tourist arrivals during the month. Arrivals from Israel increased to53,649, up from45,249in May 2025, the report showed. Israeli visitors stayed for an average of 4. 4 days, up from 4. 1 days a year earlier, while spending €783. 98 per person, an increase from €627. 74 in May 2025. Theiraverage daily expenditure reached €178. 18, significantly higher than the€153. 11recorded a year earlier and the highest among Cyprus’ three largest source markets. Poland ranked as the third largest market, accounting for8. 2 per centof total tourist arrivals. Polish arrivals edged up to37,307from36,800in May 2025, whileaverage stay fellto5. 9 daysfrom6. 6 days. Average expenditure per Polish visitor declined to€503. 92, compared with€595. 84in the corresponding month of 2025. Their average daily spending also dropped to€85. 41, from€90. 28a year earlier. Among other European markets,Austriarecorded8,634 arrivals, slightly down from8,773in May 2025. Austrian visitors stayed for5. 8 days, compared with8. 2 daysa year earlier, while spending€679. 26 per personand€117. 11 per day, compared with€773. 66and€94. 35respectively in May 2025. Belgiumrecorded3,932 arrivals, up from2,644a year earlier. Belgian tourists stayed for5. 9 days, down from7. 6 days, while spending€805. 72 per personand€136. 56 per day, compared with€884. 51and€116. 38respectively. Denmarkregistered8,137 arrivals, compared with8,635in May 2025. Danish visitors extended their average stay to8. 3 daysfrom7. 0 days, spending€817. 64 per personand€98. 51 per day, compared with€776. 71and€110. 96a year earlier. Finlandsaw arrivals decline to4,385from6,360, while average stays increased slightly to8. 4 daysfrom8. 1 days. Finnish tourists spent€818. 66 per personand€97. 46 per day, compared with€854. 76and€105. 53respectively in May 2025. Francerecorded6,291 arrivals, down from9,957a year earlier. French visitors stayed for6. 2 days, compared with6. 6 days, while expenditure rose to€722. 71 per personand€116. 57 per day, from€686. 90and€104. 08respectively. Germanyremained one of Cyprus’ largest markets with28,546 arrivals, down from29,938in May 2025. German tourists stayed for8. 0 days, compared with8. 6 daysa year earlier, while spending€835. 05 per personand€104. 38 per day, compared with€886. 28and€103. 06respectively. Greeceaccounted for16,383 arrivals, down from17,591. Greek visitors stayed for5. 9 days, compared with6. 5 days, while spending€359. 39 per personand€60. 91 per day, compared with€391. 21and€60. 19respectively. Italyregistered4,429 arrivals, down from5,623in May 2025. Italian visitors stayed longer on average at7. 1 days, compared with6. 0 daysa year earlier, but spent less at€628. 20 per personand€88. 48 per day, down from€674. 77and€112. 46respectively. Lebanonrecorded3,512 arrivals, compared with3,093a year earlier, the statististical service said. The Netherlandssaw arrivals decline to6,039from8,078. Dutch visitors stayed for8. 4 days, compared with7. 7 daysin May 2025, while spending€955. 93 per personand€113. 80 per day, compared with€971. 15and€126. 12respectively. Swedenregistered22,111 arrivals, compared with22,924a year earlier. Swedish tourists stayed for7. 4 days, down from8. 2 days, while spending€736. 86 per personand€99. 58 per day, compared with€728. 01and€88. 78respectively. Switzerlandrecorded5,167 arrivals, compared with7,249in May 2025. Swiss visitors stayed for7. 1 days, up from6. 4 days, while spending€975. 62 per personand€137. 41 per day, compared with€924. 80and€144. 50respectively. Moreover, theUnited Statesrecorded4,865 arrivals, down from6,808in May 2025. Stay and expenditure data for visitors from the United States were not available for May 2026. In the same month from a year earlier, Americans stayed in Cyprus for an average of8. 2 daysand spent€840. 20 per personor€102. 46 per day.