New data from CyStat shows a significant decline in Cyprus tourism, with arrivals falling over 13% for the first five months of 2026, even as the United Kingdom remains the island's primary tourism market.

Tourism Influx Takes a Hit

Tourist arrivals in Cyprus reached 455,680 in May 2026 compared to 479,160 in May 2025, recording a decrease of 4.9%, according to data published on Wednesday by the Cyprus Statistical Service (CyStat).

According to the official data, for the period of January – May 2026, arrivals of tourists totaled 1,166,050 compared to 1,344,486 in the corresponding period of 2025, recording a decrease of 13.3%.

Top Passenger Markets mapped

Arrivals from the United Kingdom were the main source of tourism for May 2026, with a share of 36.3% (165,600) of total arrivals, followed by Israel with 11.8% (53,649), Poland with 8.2% (37,307), Germany with 6.3% (28,546) and Sweden with 4.9% (22,111)

Shifts in Purpose of Travel

In May 2026, 75.9% of visitors to island travelled for holidays, 14.9% visited friends and relatives and 9.2% travelled for business purposes. Respectively, in May 2025, 81.2% of visitors came to Cyprus for holidays, 11.1% visited friends or relatives and 7.6% visited Cyprus for business purposes

Cypriot Residents Travel Less This May

A total of 140,892 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad in May 2026 compared to 143,296 in the corresponding month last year, recording a decrease of 1.7%.

The main countries from which residents of Cyprus returned in May 2026 were Greece with a share of 32.4% (45,668), the United Kingdom with 8.8% (12,399), Italy with 5.9% (8,324) and Poland with 4.4% (6,199).

The purpose of travel for the residents of Cyprus in May 2026 was mainly holidays, with a percentage of 71.5%, whilst business reasons held a percentage of 23.9%, studies 3.1% and other reasons 1.4%.

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)