Previously, the main influx of guests was provided by the United Kingdom.
Even before the summer began, this beloved pearl of Europe saw its seaside hotels, restaurant terraces, and beaches filled with people. However, this year there is silence here, as many have canceled their trips. This is reported by Startlap.hu.
"Last year, Cyprus could still celebrate a historic record, as, according to official data, over 4.53 million tourists arrived in the country, which is 12.2 percent more than in 2024. Tourism revenue approached 3.7 billion euros, with almost a third of the guests coming from the United Kingdom. Against this backdrop, a sudden negative turn occurred in the spring of 2026," the article notes.
According to the Cyprus Hotel Association, the number of new bookings in March fell by almost 40%, and a similar decline was observed in April.
"The decrease immediately reflected in revenues: in March, tourism revenues fell by 33.8 percent year-on-year, to 85.6 million euros," the publication added.
Why Aren't Tourists Coming to Cyprus?
Professional organizations explain this decline primarily due to the military situation in the Middle East.
"Although Cyprus is a member of the European Union and a popular Mediterranean resort, it is geographically located close to the conflict zone in the Middle East. Tourists' concerns were further heightened after a drone fell on the British military base Akrotiri, located in the south of the island, in early March," the publication reminded.
In particular, the head of easyJet emphasized that due to uncertainty, many passengers chose Spain, while demand for Cyprus decreased. Such decisions can be influenced not only by a sense of safety but also by rising fuel prices, longer routes, and increased airfare.
The Summer Season May Lack Up to 450,000 Tourists
At Hermes Airports, which manages the airports in Larnaca and Paphos, it was reported that airlines have removed about 600,000 seats from the summer schedule, which runs from April to October.
"This means a reduction in capacity of no more than 5%, however, passenger traffic may decrease compared to last year by a larger amount - approximately 9%. This would mean about 450,000 fewer arrivals," they explained in the article.
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