The damage to the tourism industry from the effects of the crisis in the Middle East now amounts to several millions.
Following yesterday's announcement by the Statistical Service in relation to the tourism revenues of April, there is a loss of more than €150 million. during the months of March and April, with the total loss of the four months being limited due to the first two months, where the numbers were moving upwards.
After the incident with the drone crash at the British Bases in the early hours of Sunday, March 1, both revenues and arrivals had plummeted. A key element of the developments is the dramatic decrease in arrivals from Israel, the second largest market for Cyprus at that time and one of the largest in terms of tourism spending. However, it should be noted that the May arrivals announced a few days ago showed some encouraging data, with the decrease continuing, but at significantly lower levels compared to the previous two months. Even more importantly, tourist arrivals from Israel seemed to be recovering in an impressive way. After all, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, described the decrease in April revenues as expected, as, as he said, "it is a continuation of March 2026, a period that, as is well known, was significantly affected by the conflict in the Middle East region and what followed".
More specifically, based on the results of the Traveller Survey, tourism revenues in April 2026 amounted to €197.5 million, compared to €304.2 million. in the corresponding month of 2025, recording a decrease of 35.1%. For the period January – April 2026, tourism revenues are estimated at €443.0 million. compared to €582.5 mil. in the corresponding period of 2025, recording a decrease of 23.9%.
€150.5 million was lost in two months
Per month, in March, revenues had reached €85.6 million compared to €129.4 mil. in the corresponding month of 2025, recording a drop of 33.8% and a loss of €43.8 million. In April, revenues amounted to €197.5 million. compared to €304.2 mil. in April 2025, recording a drop of 35.1%, with losses of €106.7 million. In total, for the two months, there is a loss of €150.5 million. However, due to the fact that January and February had recorded positive results, the decrease for the four months is limited. Specifically, for the period January – February 2026, tourism revenues are estimated at €159.9 million. compared to €148.9 mil. in the corresponding period of 2025, recording an increase of 7.4%. Therefore, for the period January – April 2026, tourism revenues are estimated at €443.0 million. compared to €582.5 mil. in the corresponding period of 2025, recording a decrease of 23.9% or €139.5 million.
Optimism from May arrivals
As we have mentioned above, however, the May arrivals, which were announced a few days ago, create optimism for better days. Specifically, these amounted to 455,680 compared to 479,160 in May 2025, marking a decrease of 4,9%. But the important thing was the arrivals from Israel, which reached 53,649 (11.8 of the total). It is recalled that in March, the month in which there was the drone incident at the British Bases, the arrivals of Israeli tourists fell to 1.537 compared to 28.353 tourists in March 2025. In April, arrivals from Israel increased to 15,997 and in May, they skyrocketed to 53,649, even more than in the same month of 2025, when 45,249 arrivals were recorded.
Under the microscope of the Parliament
This morning, Parliament's Committee on Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism will put the tourism industry and the impact of the situation in the Middle East under the microscope.
In particular, the committee will examine "the impact on the domestic tourism industry, as a result of the volatile situation in the Middle East and the measures to support those affected". The meeting is expected to be attended by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, as well as representatives of hoteliers' associations, travel agents, Hermes, associations of Municipalities and Communities, Tourism Development and Promotion Companies (ETAP), leisure and catering centers and many others involved.
Koumis: April reduction expected
A decrease of 35.1% in the month of April 2026 in terms of revenue, compared to April 2025, was expected, says the Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis. In a written statement in relation to an announcement by the Statistical Service for April's tourism revenues, Mr. Koumis states that "the month of April is a continuation of the month of March 2026, a period that, as is well known, was significantly affected by the conflict in the Middle East region and what followed".
He adds that "in essence, a comparison emerged between the month of April 2025, a month that is the best April in the history of Cypriot tourism, during which Cypriot tourism exceeded 400,000 arrivals for the first time, and April 2026, a month plagued by the conflict in the Middle East, the intense negative international publicity, the reduced flight schedules and others". In addition, the Deputy Minister of Tourism states that during April, "the so-called 'Jet Fuel Crisis' came to the surface, i.e. the negative discussion in relation to jet fuel, with fuel stocks in Europe as the main element of discussion.
An element that caused tremors in the pan-European tourism economy, causing additional uncertainty, and a decrease in the rate of bookings at a pan-European level." Mr. Koumis points out that "the improvement in tourism performance in the months that followed, proves that the measures taken have had a positive effect, but above all we are satisfied with the return of the tourism sector to a stable trajectory".
