For the first time, arrivals exceeded half a million in October, while the period January-October 2025 was the best ten months in the history of tourism in our country, Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis said yesterday.
The great benefit that arises through this development, apart from the prospect that we are heading for another record year, is the extension of the tourist season, for which the competent bodies have been fighting for years, with the ultimate goal of making Cyprus a year-round tourist destination.
More specifically, in his statement yesterday, Kostas Koumis noted, among other things, that "the October statistics confirm the good course of our country's tourism, but above all they confirm the great leap of our country's tourism, in the effort to extend the tourist season, which is the passport for the universal evolution of our country into a year-round tourist destination".
Specifically, he adds that "it is the first time that the month of October exceeded half a million arrivals, something we had predicted and which certainly satisfies us."
Regarding the results of the ten months, the Deputy Minister of Tourism stated that "it is, as we expected, the best ten months in the history of tourism in our country". Specifically, an increase of 11.1% is recorded, compared to the previous year and an increase of 40.8% over a three-year horizon, "performance that undoubtedly satisfies us", he said.
"As a Government, we worked methodically and in a coordinated manner in this direction, with a focus on improving air connectivity, accompanied by targeted digital promotion actions and incentive plans focusing on special forms of tourism and the winter season. We continue, focused on the effort for sustainable tourism development", he said in conclusion.
The crucial decision
But what was the critical parameter that contributed to the strengthening of October arrivals and their continuation in November, leaving auspicious prospects for the future? A critical point for this development was the fact that a large number of hotels remained open in November as well.
What does this mean in practice? Someone who wanted to come on vacation to Cyprus at the end of October – for example a five-day weekend from October 30 to November 4 – would not be able to do so if the hotels closed at the beginning of November.
So, by extending their operation, the hotels gave impetus to fill the last days of October, but at the same time to continue arrivals in November.
We are getting closer to the goal
Speaking to "F", the General Manager of PASYXE, Christos Angelidis, noted that the extension of the tourist season is a strategic goal, which we are gradually and with small steps achieved.
A similar effort to the one made in October-November, he pointed out, must be made for the period March – April. If hotels open a few days earlier, i.e. around mid-March, they will give a significant boost in the first days of April, a development that will contribute to better results and a further extension of the tourist season.
Reinforcing these efforts, added Mr. Angelidis, could be the holding of sports and social events, which will attract people from different countries and will be combined with holidays on the island.
After all, the weather in Cyprus both in the period October – November and March – April is by far milder than the temperatures prevailing in other countries in the corresponding periods. However, a systematic and coordinated effort between the public and private sectors is needed to achieve the desired results, he noted.
Regarding the results of the major WTM tourism exhibition, which took place in early November in England, Mr. Angelidis noted that the messages were quite encouraging, with tour operators appearing cautiously optimistic about the new season.
Now, he added, Cyprus has established itself in the eyes of foreign professionals, as a mature and traditional destination, which is in the plans of more and more countries.
