Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis emphasized the importance of Cyprus claiming its share of the recovering Chinese tourism market, following a meeting with a delegation from Shanghai, China, led by Juneyao Airlines General Manager, Fumo Ji.

The delegation’s visit, organized by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, is part of ongoing efforts to open up the Chinese market. The familiarization trip, running until January 11, includes travel agents, media representatives, and Juneyao Airlines officials.

Welcoming the delegation, Koumis expressed confidence in the potential of the partnership to enhance Cyprus’s tourism sector. A constructive discussion followed, focusing on the delegation’s impressions of Cyprus and strategies to improve and promote the country's tourism offerings.

Koumis highlighted that China has been one of the largest global tourism markets, with outbound travel exceeding 120 million annually before the pandemic, 13 million of which were to Europe. While the pandemic impacted the market significantly, it is expected to recover this year, with increasing numbers of Chinese tourists traveling to Europe.

Chinese tourists typically travel during national holidays in February, May, and October, presenting key opportunities for Cyprus to attract visitors during these periods.

The Deputy Minister outlined Cyprus’s strategy to capitalize on this opportunity, focusing on strengthening partnerships with specific tourism companies and implementing targeted promotional campaigns.

"We aim to create the conditions for increased demand from the Chinese market through smart promotion and strategic partnerships. This is our priority, and we are actively working toward it," Koumis stated.