Cyprus tourism decline narrows to 8% as July arrivals steady with Israeli tourists rising sharply
Tourist arrivals in Cyprus fell by just 1.1 per cent in July 2026, leading to an overall decline of 8 per cent for the first seven months of the year, according to the statistical service Cystat. A total of 582,754 tourists visited in July, slightly below last year’s 589,116 but 5.7 per cent higher than July 2024. The narrowing gap reflects a 55.8 per cent surge in visitors from Israel, which helped offset declines in nearly all other major markets.
The United Kingdom remains the largest source market, contributing 31.9 per cent of July arrivals, though its numbers dipped by 2 per cent compared to 2025. Israel became the second-largest market with 119,293 arrivals, up sharply from 76,557 last year. Other markets such as Poland, Germany, Sweden, and Norway varied, with Norway also recording growth. Conversely, countries like France, Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary saw significant declines.
The summer season steadied tourism performance, particularly in main districts like Famagusta and Paphos where hotel occupancy rates are strong. Holiday travel accounted for the majority of arrivals, with visits to friends and relatives and business trips also showing slight increases. Airport passenger traffic decreased by only 1 per cent in July, indicating a more stable tourism sector despite the year-to-date decline.
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