In June 2023, Cypriot travelers embarked on 138,588 journeys abroad, marking a commendable 14.4% surge compared to the 121,146 trips made in the same month of 2022. Interestingly, this growth trend is also evident when comparing it with the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, with a modest 0.5% increase observed over that year's 137,992 trips.

Data from the Statistical Service reveals the primary countries from which Cypriot citizens returned in June 2023. Topping the list was Greece, accounting for 30.8% (42,662) of the total trips, followed by the United Kingdom at 11.2% (15,493), Italy at 7.1% (9,776) with steady growth, and France at 4.2% (5,776). While Germany consistently remains a popular destination for Cypriots, Poland has seen a noteworthy surge in interest. Travel experts attribute this trend to the presence of direct flights to these countries, making travel more convenient and enticing.

Haris Papacharalambous, the spokesperson for the Association of Travel Agents, highlights that Italy, France, and Poland are experiencing an upward trajectory in travel preferences, likely driven by the accessibility and ease of travel to these destinations. Additionally, he notes that interest in the UK tends to decrease during the summer compared to other seasons when student and business trips are more prevalent. Notably, the increased number of travels has also led to a rise in the demand for travel packages.

Overall, Cypriot travels abroad are on the rise, indicating a potential recovery to surpass the figures recorded in 2019. Moreover, there is a growing trend among Cypriot citizens in favor of opting for travel packages to enhance their vacation experiences.

Tourist arrivals in June 2023 surged to 456,985, an impressive 22.7% increase compared to June 2022's figure of 372,324. However, when benchmarked against June 2019, the last year unaffected by the pandemic, there was a decrease of approximately 10%, as June 2019 saw 509,662 arrivals.

Taking a broader view of the January-to-June period in 2023, the total number of tourist arrivals reached 1,613,690, representing a significant 32.1% rise compared to the same period in 2022, with 1,221,382 arrivals. Remarkably, this figure comes close to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, where there were 1,631,023 arrivals for the corresponding period. While there is a slight decrease of approximately 1% compared to 2019, experts remain optimistic about the industry's steady recovery.

Papacharalambous emphasizes that the actual tourist arrivals align closely with the predictions made for 2023, indicating that the numbers are on track to reach pre-pandemic levels.

However, it's important to note that there has been a decrease in the average length of stay for tourists. A reduction in the number of days tourists spend in their chosen destination can directly impact the revenue generated from tourism. The estimated decline is around 10%, attributed mainly to the global economic challenges people are facing. Despite this, travelers remain enthusiastic about their trips but are opting for shorter stays to manage their expenses better.

As Cypriot tourism shows signs of revival, industry stakeholders are hopeful that the upward trend in travel and tourist arrivals will continue.