The movement of travelers in and out of Cyprus saw a steady rise in 2024, according to newly released figures by the Statistical Service of Cyprus, as reported by Stockwatch.com.cy. Total traveler arrivals hit 6,285,427, marking a 2.9% increase from 2023. Departures also rose to 6,270,760, reflecting a 2.7% annual increase.
Air travel remained the dominant mode of transport, accounting for 97.7% of all travel activity.
Tourism Bounces Back with Stronger Numbers
Cyprus welcomed 4,040,200 tourists in 2024 — a 5.1% growth compared to the previous year. The United Kingdom retained its spot as the island’s top tourist source, contributing 34% of all arrivals. Other key markets included Israel (10.5%), Poland (8.3%), Germany (5.7%), Greece (4.5%), and Sweden (3.7%).
As for destination preferences, Pafos attracted the highest share of visitors with 31.5% choosing to stay there. Other popular spots included Ayia Napa (15.9%), Larnaka (14.2%), Limassol (12.4%), and Paralimni (11.4%).
When it came to travel purposes, the majority — 81.1% — visited Cyprus for leisure. Another 11.9% came to visit friends and family, while 6.9% traveled for business.
Tourism Revenue Climbs to Over €3.2 Billion
Revenue from tourism in 2024 climbed to €3.21 billion, up 7.3% from €2.99 billion in 2023. The average expenditure per tourist also saw an increase, reaching €794.40, a 2.1% rise year-on-year.
Spending peaked in August, with an average of €921.59 per person, while January saw the lowest at €513.32.
Cyprus Residents Travel More Abroad
Outbound travel by Cypriot residents also rose, totaling 1,754,937 trips — a 4.4% increase over 2023 figures. Greece remained the most popular destination, drawing 34.7% of these trips. It was followed by the UK (10.5%), Italy (5.2%), Germany (3.7%), Russia (3.1%), and France (2.9%).
The busiest travel month for locals was August, while February saw the fewest trips. As for travel motives, 72.5% of residents traveled for holidays, 19.4% for professional reasons, 6.8% for studies, and 1.3% for other purposes.
Source: Stockwatch.com.cy