Filenews 20 August 2025 - by Angelos Angelodimou
After the July results in terms of tourist arrivals, it seems that Poland is now establishing itself as the third largest market for Cyprus, joining the United Kingdom and Israel, which have long been in the top two places with the most arrivals on the island.
The Statistical Service published yesterday the July data regarding tourist arrivals. As is well known, the July and August numbers are perhaps the most important in relation to the total arrivals on the island, which demonstrates the importance of these results. In particular, tourist arrivals in July 2025 amounted to 589,116 compared to 551,229 in July 2024, recording an increase of 6.9%. For the period January – July 2025, tourist arrivals amounted to 2,432,129 compared to 2,203,704 in the corresponding period of 2024, recording an increase of 10.4%.
The fact that the UK is consistently at the top of arrivals is not surprising. What is recorded as interesting, however, is that despite the efforts made by the competent bodies to support other markets in terms of arrivals, however, arrivals from the United Kingdom are steadily increasing every year, which certainly shows the deep relationship that the two countries have acquired in the field of tourism. Specifically, in July 2023, arrivals from the United Kingdom amounted to 175,924, in July 2024 to 186,751 and in July 2025 to 189,730. In other words, a small but steady increase is recorded every year, but it is significant in the midst of the turmoil that occurs worldwide and creates problems in the sector.
As far as Israel is concerned, it has in turn established itself in second place after the loss of the Russian market and is also showing a steady upward trend in terms of tourist arrivals. In particular, in July 2023 arrivals from Israel amounted to 64,711, in July 2024 to 71,238 and in July 2025 to 76,557. Of course, it is worth noting here that in addition to tourist arrivals, significant purchases and investments by Israelis are recorded in our country and especially in the province of Larnaca, focusing on the real estate part.
Poland recorded an increase in arrivals of 23.3% in July compared to the same month last year, while in the general context, it seems to establish itself in third place with the most arrivals on the island. Statistics data show that in July 2023 arrivals had risen to 28,957, in July 2024 to 35,456 and in July 2025 to 43,713.
The markets of Romania and Germany have also recorded a dynamic increase in recent years. The authorities attach particular importance to the German market, which is why various actions have been taken recently to be able to attract even more tourists from Europe's largest market. Tourists from Germany amounted to 23,694 in July this year compared to 19,030 in July 2023, while tourists from Romania reached 17,000 compared to 9,513 in July 2023. On the contrary, arrivals from Sweden, Norway and Greece recorded a noticeable decrease.
In addition to the above, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism is expected to participate in a total of 52 international tourism exhibitions, with the next major participation expected at the IFTM exhibition in Paris in September. The next exhibitions included in the indicative list of tourism exhibitions in which the Deputy Ministry of Tourism intends to participate this year include the Caravan Salon exhibition at the end of August in Düsseldorf and three other exhibitions in September: IFTM in Paris, Tourism Expo Japan in Osaka and SeaTrade Europe in Hamburg. Four more exhibitions follow in October, two of them in Stockholm, one in Copenhagen, and the special National Wedding Show in Birmingham, aimed at attracting wedding tourism.
The next big stops are the exhibitions that come in November, with the emphasis mainly on London, at the World Travel Market. In the same month, the Deputy Ministry is expected to participate in the tourism exhibitions IBTM in Barcelona and ITTF in Warsaw, as well as in the Philoxenia exhibition in Thessaloniki. He is also expected to visit the Authentic Athens Marathon, to attract sports tourism, as well as tourism exhibitions in Colmar and Leipzig.
