Cyprus recorded the largest drop in the European Union in overnight stays at tourist accommodation in the first half of 2026. Overnight stays fell 7.7% year-on-year, while the EU as a whole saw a 1.7% increase, according to figures released by Eurostat on Tuesday.
Despite the decline, Cyprus continues to show particularly high dependence on inbound tourism. Foreign visitors accounted for 92.6% of all overnight stays at the country’s tourist accommodation, the second-highest share in the EU after Malta.
Cyprus and Romania post the biggest losses
The data show nine member states recorded an annual drop in tourist overnight stays between January and June 2026. Cyprus posted the largest fall at 7.7%, followed by Romania at 6.7%.
At the other end of the scale, Ireland recorded the biggest increase, with overnight stays up 14.6%. Malta followed with a 9.9% rise, while Slovakia posted 5.9%.
EU overnight stays reach 1.321 billion
Tourist accommodation across the EU recorded 1.321 billion overnight stays in the first half of 2026, up from 1.299 billion in the same period of 2025, an annual increase of 1.7%.
The rise was driven more by visitors from abroad, with non-resident overnight stays up 2.5% compared with a 0.9% increase for domestic visitors.
Foreign visitors accounted for 48.9% of all overnight stays across the EU in the first six months of the year.
Cyprus highly dependent on foreign tourists
The figures point to significant differences between member states in how dependent their tourist accommodation is on foreign markets.
Malta recorded the highest share of overnight stays by non-residents, at 95.2%. Cyprus followed with 92.6%, ahead of Luxembourg at 87.7%.
By contrast, foreign visitors accounted for less than a quarter of overnight stays in Germany, Poland and Romania, at 18.5%, 19.8% and 23% respectively.
