The Cyprus Statistical Service released data indicating that tourist arrivals to Cyprus during first quarter of 2023 rose by 61% to reach 393,893, in contrast to 244,705 during the same period in 2022.
An upward trend that was observed during the first two months of the year persisted through March, with tourist arrivals reaching 184,263, as opposed to 128,840 in March 2022, which represents a 43% increase.
In March 2023, the United Kingdom was responsible for the largest proportion of tourism in Cyprus, accounting for 33.8% of total arrivals, which equates to 62,282 visitors. The next highest sources of tourism were Israel with 12.4% (22,813 tourists), Greece with 8.2% (15,122 tourists), Poland with 7.6% (14,049 tourists), and Germany with 7% (12,864 tourists).
In March 2023, the majority of arrivals in Cyprus, accounting for 71.6%, came for the purpose of holidays, with 14.9% visiting friends and relatives and 13.3% for business purposes. This indicates that Cyprus remains a popular destination for leisure travelers, as well as for those visiting their loved ones and for business purposes.
Compared to the same month in the previous year, March 2022, the purpose of visits to Cyprus remained largely unchanged. In March 2022, 71.9% of visitors came for holidays, 16.3% visited friends or relatives, and 11.8% came for business reasons.
Furthermore, the number of Cypriot residents returning from a trip abroad in March 2023 amounted to 113,805, indicating a significant increase of 89.9% compared to the corresponding month of the previous year, where only 59,918 residents returned.
In March 2023, the top countries from which Cypriot residents returned were Greece, accounting for 30.3% or 34,455 returnees, followed by the United Kingdom with 14.4% or 16,386 returnees, Bulgaria with 4% or 4,527 returnees, and Italy with 3.5% or 3,959 returnees.
In March 2023, the majority of Cypriot residents traveling abroad did so for the purpose of holidays, which accounted for 68.2% of the total, followed by business reasons with 26.1%, studies with 4%, and other reasons with 1.8%.
This surge in the number of returnees highlights the growing desire among Cypriots to travel overseas, possibly due to the relaxation of travel restrictions, the rollout of vaccinations, and the gradual resumption of international travel.
