Data released by the Cyprus Statistical Service (CyStat) on Thursday indicates a 7.5% increase in tourist arrivals during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year. However, there was a slight decline of 0.8% in arrivals for the month of March.
In March 2025, tourist arrivals reached 200,736, down from 202,256 in March 2024. Conversely, for the period from January to March 2025, the total arrivals of tourists stood at 446,596, compared to 415,251 during the corresponding quarter of 2024.
The United Kingdom remained the largest source of tourists for March 2025, accounting for 30.7% of total arrivals, which translates to 61,545 visitors. It was followed by Israel with 14.1% (28,353 arrivals), Poland at 9.9% (19,827), Germany with 8.0% (16,084), and Greece, contributing 6.5% (13,053 visitors).
The data further shows that in March 2025, 69.4% of the visitors came for holiday purposes, 15.7% for visits to friends and relatives, and 14.7% for business reasons. In comparison, March 2024 saw a higher percentage of holidaymakers at 76.0%, with 13.1% visiting friends or relatives and 10.7% for business.
In terms of Cypriot residents returning from trips abroad, March 2025 reported a total of 145,940 residents, indicating a notable increase of 13.9% compared to 128,085 in March 2024.
Greece was the most popular destination for residents returning in March 2025, making up 32.6% of the total returnees (47,527). Other prominent countries included the United Kingdom with 12.1% (17,624), Italy at 5.2% (7,522), and Poland with 3.5% (5,167).
The primary motivations for travel among residents of Cyprus in March 2025 were predominantly for holidays, which accounted for 70.2% of the trips. Business reasons made up 26.0%, while studies accounted for 2.5%, and other reasons constituted 1.3%.
The tourism sector remains a crucial pillar of Cyprus’s economy, and despite the small dip in March’s arrivals, the overall upward trend during the first quarter is a positive sign for the year ahead.
Source : CNA
