KOUMIS - RECORD ARRIVALS AND REVENUES IN 2025 - SHIFT TO QUALITY IN 2026 - Filenews 26/2
2025 was recorded as a top year in the history of Cypriot tourism, with record arrivals and strong revenue growth, said Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis, presenting the report of the work of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, in the press interview of February 26, 2026.
As he mentioned, arrivals exceeded 4,5 million for the first time. in 2025, recording an increase of 12,2% compared to 2024 and an increase of 41,6% over a three-year horizon. Tourism revenues, for the period January-November (where data are available), increased by 15.3% year-on-year and by 51.1% over the three-year period.
Average expenditure per capita increased by 2.9% to €822, from €799 in 2024, while daily expenditure rose to €99.5 from €92.8, marking an increase of 7.2%. At the same time, the average length of stay fell by 4% to 8.27 days, however overnight stays are expected – according to preliminary estimates – to reach 18.5 million, from 17.9 million. in 2024 (+3.3%).
The Deputy Minister emphasized that tourism confirmed its role as a strategic pillar of growth and resilience, with a contribution to GDP of 14% in 2025, up from 13.1% in the previous year. He also said that the growth rate of the economy is estimated at 3.75% for 2025, higher than the eurozone average (1.5%). In absolute terms, revenues for the three-year period 2023-2025 amounted to €9.9 billion.
From performance to product quality
Mr. Koumis noted that the three-year period 2022-2025 had as its central goal the return of tourism to high performance, after the losses of 2022, adding that now "the time has come to turn the page" of the tourism ecosystem, giving greater weight to quality parameters and the upgrading of the experience.
In this context, he said that within 2025, 13 incentive schemes were in operation, four of which are financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan, with total appropriations estimated at close to €20 million. by the end of the program. Among others:
- For the revival of rural, mountainous, remote and remote areas, 153 projects are being completed, with a budget of up to €7 million.
- For the upgrading of hotels and tourist accommodation in rural/mountainous/remote areas, 48 companies were approved, with an amount of up to €6.9 million.
- €1.3 million was granted for the upgrading of restaurants or the sale of traditional products. within 2025
- For health and wellness tourism, 7 applications amounting to €1.2 million were approved.
At the same time, he referred to additional plans for digital transition, conferences/incentive trips, sports events, diving certification, beach upgrades, experiential workshops of traditional crafts and actions for Christmas villages and local products.
Strategic actions and specific forms of tourism
The Deputy Minister said that the update of the National Tourism Strategy 2035 has been completed, while the guide school has restarted after seven years. He also mentioned the launch of procedures for an integrated digital application in collaboration with the CUT, with the aim of improving the tourist experience, as well as action to record the historical development of Cypriot tourism.
He placed particular emphasis on special forms of tourism, mentioning the completion of a three-dimensional mapping of diving sites and a study on diving tourism, while announcing new studies on health tourism and nature/rural tourism.
Regarding agrotourism, he said that in 2025, more than 90,000 arrivals were recorded in agrotourism accommodation (+3% compared to 2024 and +40.9% in the three-year period). On nautical tourism, he said cruise tourism saw a 104% increase, with 278,000 passengers, from 136,000 in 2024.
Cyprus Presidency of the EU and legislative work
Mr. Koumis described the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU as a reference point for 2026, noting that more than 30,000 delegates are expected, with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism undertaking the planning and coordination of hospitality and excursions, as well as the processing of about 250 conferences.
He also mentioned that Cyprus, as the presiding country, undertakes the submission, in May 2026, of Council Conclusions on tourism, utilizing, among other things, the Transition Pathway for Tourism and the European Agenda for Tourism 2030.
In the legislative field, the Deputy Ministry forwarded to the Parliament a bill to regulate diving tourism, while a bill was also submitted for the establishment and operation of catering and entertainment venues, with the aim of modernizing the framework.
Finally, he said that Memoranda of Understanding in tourism have been signed with Israel and Saudi Arabia, while noting that the first messages for 2026 are encouraging, with the aim of maintaining performance and enhancing the quality characteristics of the destination, with the EST 2035 as a compass.
