The data show a steady and gradual recovery in tourist arrivals, said Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis, noting that data on tourism trends must be evaluated calmly and without hasty conclusions.

Speaking after the Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday, Koumis stated that it was “entirely expected” that the developments of the past few months would have an impact on tourist traffic, noting that this “also happened in other destinations due to geopolitical developments.”

As he said, “it is also understandable to make a comparison with the previous year,” he recalled, however, that “2025 was a record year for Cypriot tourism,” noting that “the comparison is being made against an exceptionally high baseline.”

He noted that “what matters is not a single snapshot of the moment, but the overall picture,” adding that “flight schedules are proceeding as normal, the tourist season is underway, and the data show a steady and gradual recovery in tourist flows.”

At the same time, he noted that the Deputy Ministry of Tourism is monitoring the situation “closely in cooperation with all stakeholders in the tourism industry,” with the aim of supporting Cyprus’ reputation as a “high-quality, safe, and reliable destination.”

“We do not underestimate the difficulties, but the data do not justify excessive pessimism,” he said, adding that “Cypriot tourism has demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and a strong international standing.”

Koumis also noted that “2026 began with high hopes”, as the months of January and February, prior to external developments, “were recorded as the best in the history of tourism in our country.”

Invited to say whether any measures would be taken to attract tourists, the Deputy Minister of Tourism replied that “since March 1, when tensions began in the broader Middle East region, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism has been monitoring events minute by minute and took specific measures very early on.”

He clarified that the Ministry had taken steps "to maintain the country’s good air connections and strengthen working relationships with our country’s strategic partners”, adding that “efforts to promote our country abroad have been intensified.”

“We expect that all of this will prove beneficial for the tourism economy as the year progresses,” he noted.

Koumis also said that Cyprus, as a tourist destination, “welcomes visitors from more than 40 countries,” noting, however, that “geopolitical tensions in the Middle East region in general do not favour the situation” for additional visitors from distant countries.

“The whole situation is evolving, and as the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, we remain cautiously optimistic about the sector’s recovery as the year progresses,” he said.

Asked if there has been a decline in arrivals from specific markets, the Deputy Minister of Tourism replied that “a specific decline has been recorded from some countries.”

As he explained in conclusion, this was “to some extent expected, as over the past three years, Cypriot tourism has been on a steady upward trajectory and for many, an exceptionally strong one.”

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)