TOURISM - THE WAR AND BLOW TO THE IMAGE OF CYPRUS - 30.7% PLUNGE IN ARRIVALS IN MARCH - Filenews 17/4
Cyprus recorded a significant decrease in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2026, with the data of the Statistical Service reflecting a slowdown in tourist traffic and a sharp deterioration in March, after the start of the war in Iran.
Specifically, tourist arrivals in the period January – March 2026 were limited to 407.339, compared to 446.596 in the corresponding period of 2025, recording a drop of 8,8%.
The largest burden was recorded in March, when arrivals decreased by 61,538 to 139,198, compared to 200,736 in March 2025, recording a 30.7% plunge.
The Key Markets and Purpose of Travel
According to the Statistics Office, the United Kingdom was the main tourism market for March 2026, as arrivals from the country accounted for 32.9% of the total or 45,763 visitors.
Poland followed with 12.6% and 17,604 arrivals, Germany with 10.8% and 14,999 arrivals, as well as Greece with 6.5% and 9,009 arrivals.
In terms of travel purpose, 65.7% of visitors who arrived in Cyprus in March stated that they travelled for holidays, 19.8% to visit friends or relatives and 14.3% for business.
In the corresponding month of 2025, the percentage of those who visited Cyprus for holidays was higher, at 69.4%, while for visiting friends or relatives it had stood at 15.7% and for business at 14.7%.
Decrease in travel by Cypriot residents
At the same time, a decline was also recorded in the trips of Cypriot residents abroad. In March 2026, they amounted to 133,034, compared to 145,940 in March 2025, also recording a decrease of 8.8%.
The main countries from which the residents of Cyprus returned were Greece with a percentage of 32.4% or 43,068 travellers, the United Kingdom with 9.9% or 13,131 travellers, Italy with 4.7% or 6,304 and Germany with 4.5% or 5,961.
According to the same data, the purpose of travel of Cypriot residents in March was mainly holidays at a rate of 72.5%, while business reasons accounted for 22.6%, studies at 3.9% and other reasons at 1%.
The war and the blow to the image of Cyprus
The deterioration in performance is linked to developments in the region after the start of the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran in late February. Cyprus, at a short geographical distance from Iran, was directly affected by the climate of insecurity that was formed internationally.
In early March, a few days after the conflict began, a Shahed drone attack on a British naval base on the island caused a new wave of concern and travel cancellations, while foreign governments issued travel advisories to avoid the area.
In this environment, Nicosia is attempting to use the organization of the upcoming European Union Summit as a means of strengthening confidence in Cyprus as a safe destination.
The EU Summit as a message of security
Cyprus, as the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, will host the 27 leaders of the Union on April 23 and 24, first in Ayia Napa and then in Nicosia.
For the Cypriot side, the Summit is not only an important diplomatic event, but also an opportunity to promote the country as a safe and fully functional tourist destination.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis told Politico that the organization of such an important event in Cyprus is, above all, a vote of confidence in the Republic of Cyprus and can convey even stronger the message that safety is a top priority.
For his part, the representative of the association of tour operators ACTTA, Antonis Orthodoxou, expressed the hope that the Summit will serve as a starting point for restoring the confidence of foreign visitors in Cyprus.
Hit by expensive airline tickets
In addition to geopolitical uncertainty, the rise in airline ticket prices as a result of rising fuel costs is also causing additional pressures.
According to the Politico report, some round-trip air tickets from Brussels exceed €1.000, a development that significantly burdens the accessibility of Cyprus, a country that is heavily dependent on air connections with the rest of Europe.
Government officials also said that planning for additional flights to Brussels during the period of the Cyprus presidency was postponed due to the war, with the increased prices described as catastrophic for the tourism market.
A difficult year for tourism
Despite expectations that the European Summit can contribute to the restoration of the country's image, those in charge do not expect a complete reversal of the losses.
Kostas Koumis admitted that last year's record results are not expected to be repeated, noting that both March and April have already been negatively affected.
