Tourist arrivals in Cyprus fell by 30 percent in March due to the war in the Middle East, the vice-president of the Cyprus Association of Travel Agents (ACTTA), Christos Christou, said on Wednesday. He added that arrivals are also showing a marked decline during the second half of April and in May.
Christou was speaking at a press conference in Nicosia held ahead of TRAVEL EXPO CYPRUS 2026.
Responding to questions, he said some airlines have reduced their summer flight schedules as a result of developments in the Middle East.
Turning to outbound travel, Christou noted that bookings by Cypriots for the summer are currently showing “increased interest”.
TRAVEL EXPO CYPRUS 2026 will take place from 17 to 19 April at the State Fairgrounds in Nicosia, with exhibitors from Cyprus and abroad. Christou said the event will feature strong participation from organisations and institutions, as well as a wide range of options covering every type of travel need.
“Our goal is clear: to inspire the public to travel, to explore, and to take advantage of the offers that will be presented at the exhibition,” he said.
Representing the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Maria Sokratous said the event is the only tourism exhibition held in Cyprus and continues to be upgraded through the participation of international exhibitors and the promotion of modern and innovative forms of tourism, including various special-interest sectors.
Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to learn about special-interest tourism, such as cultural, sports and gastronomic tourism, as well as opportunities for domestic travel.
Athina Sfakouri, director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) office in Cyprus, said that more than 500,000 Cypriots visit Greece every year.