Tourist arrivals in Cyprus fell slightly in July 2026, with a steeper decline recorded over the first seven months of the year, while trips abroad by Cyprus residents rose significantly, according to data from the Statistical Service.
Arrivals in July came to 582,754, down from 589,116 in the same month of 2025, a fall of 1.1%. The steeper decline came over the January-July period, when arrivals fell to 2,238,769 from 2,432,129 in the same period last year, a drop of 8%.
UK remains top market
The UK remained Cyprus’s leading tourism market in July, accounting for 31.9% of total arrivals with 185,981 tourists. Israel followed with a 20.5% share and 119,293 arrivals. Poland accounted for 6.3% of arrivals, with 36,912 tourists, while 21,338 people arrived from Germany, a 3.7% share.
Sweden rounded out the top five markets, with 19,899 arrivals and a 3.4% share.
Holidays the main reason for 85.2% of tourists
Holidays were the main reason for visiting Cyprus for 85.2% of tourists in July 2026. A further 11.7% travelled to visit friends or relatives, and 3% for business purposes.
In July 2025, 85.5% of visitors had travelled to Cyprus for holidays, 11.6% to visit friends or relatives, and 2.8% for business reasons.
Trips by Cyprus residents up 12.3%
Trips abroad by Cyprus residents moved in the opposite direction, rising to 210,047 in July 2026, from 186,987 in the same month of 2025, an annual increase of 12.3%.
Greece remained the top destination residents returned from, accounting for 38.5% of trips, or 80,775 in total. The UK followed with 14,832 trips and a 7.1% share, Italy with 12,545 and a 6% share, Poland with 7,412 and a 3.5% share, and Germany also with a 3.5% share on 7,330 trips.
Holidays were the purpose of travel for 75.2% of Cyprus residents. Business reasons accounted for 13.7%, studies for 10.3%, and other reasons for 0.7%.
