Cyprus tourism decline narrows to 7% through August as Israeli arrivals surge
Tourist arrivals to Cyprus fell by 3.3 per cent in August 2026, totaling 581,880 visitors, as declines from key markets including the UK, Poland, and Germany were partially offset by a significant 28.4 per cent increase in tourists from Israel. Despite the monthly drop compared to August 2025, arrivals in August 2026 were 4.9 per cent higher than August 2024. For the January to August period, tourism numbers reached 2,820,649, down 7 per cent from the same period the previous year, marking 213,506 fewer visitors.
The UK remained the largest source market with 177,603 arrivals, down 8 per cent year-on-year, while Israel accounted for 23.3 per cent of all arrivals during August, adding over 30,000 visitors compared to last year. Other markets such as Poland and Germany experienced declines between 6 and 13 per cent, while Norway was the only additional market to grow slightly. Airport traffic at Larnaca and Paphos reported 1.77 million passengers in August, the highest of 2026, though still 1.5 per cent below last year.
The latest figures reflect a summer recovery in tourism after sharper losses in spring due to regional instability, with the shortfall narrowing from 10.1 per cent in June to 7 per cent by August. Holidays made up the bulk of arrivals at 84.5 per cent, while visits to friends and relatives increased to 13 per cent. Travel abroad by Cyprus residents also remained high with slight increases compared to last year.
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