Tourism showed strong momentum in 2025, with total tourist arrivals reaching 4,534,073, marking an increase of 12.2% compared with 4,040,200 arrivals in 2024, according to data released by the Statistical Service on Monday.
In December 2025, tourist arrivals amounted to 156,959, compared with 133,063 the same month the year before, recording an increase of 18.0%. The main source of tourism last month was Israel, accounting for 19.1% (30,020 arrivals), followed by the United Kingdom with 19.0% (29,826), Poland with 11.3% (17,779), Germany with 7.4% (11,569) and Greece with 7.3% (11,413).
In terms of purpose of travel, 56.4% of tourists who visited Cyprus in December 2025 stated that they came for holidays, 32.0% to visit friends or relatives and 11.3% for business purposes. The corresponding figures for December 2024 were 49.6%, 37.5% and 12.7%, respectively.
Travel by Cyprus residents abroad also followed a positive trend last month, recording a significant increase of 14.9%, with trips reaching 193,007 compared with 168,022 in December 2024. The main countries from which Cyprus residents returned were Greece with 28.4% (54,759), the United Kingdom with 11.0% (21,224) and Poland with 6.5% (12,554).
Asked about their purpose of travel, the majority of Cyprus residents, 69.3%, said they went for holidays, while 14.9% stated business purposes, and 15.0% studies.
Source: CNA