Cyprus experienced an exceptional surge in winter tourism this year, with November arrivals climbing by 30.4% compared to the same month in 2024. According to fresh data from the Statistical Service (Cystat), the island welcomed 234,580 visitors in November, a significant increase from the 179,941 recorded last year.
This late-season spike has pushed the total visitor count for the first eleven months of 2025 to 4,377,114, marking a 12% overall rise compared to the previous year and signaling a record-breaking trajectory for the industry.
Key Source Markets: The UK and Poland Lead the Way
The United Kingdom continues to be the bedrock of the Cypriot tourism sector, though other European markets are showing rapid growth. The market share for November 2025 was distributed as follows:
| Country of Origin | Number of Visitors | Market Share (%) |
| United Kingdom | 53,267 | 22.7% |
| Poland | 30,983 | 13.2% |
| Israel | 26,816 | 11.4% |
| Germany | 24,361 | 10.4% |
| Greece | 13,965 | 6.0% |
While the UK remains the largest contributor, Poland and Germany have seen substantial annual increases, reflecting the success of efforts to diversify the island’s tourism base and promote it as a year-round destination.
Why They Came: Shifting Travel Purposes
The data reveals a notable shift toward leisure travel during the “off-peak” month. In November 2025, 72% of visitors traveled primarily for holidays, a significant jump from the 64.5% who did so in November 2024.
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Visiting Friends & Relatives: 13.1% (down from 17.2% in 2024)
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Business Travel: 14.4% (down from 18.1% in 2024)
This indicates that the island’s appeal for pure vacationing is extending further into the winter months, reducing the traditional seasonality of the market.
Outbound Mobility: Cypriots Head to Greece and Italy
The trend of increased travel was not limited to arrivals. The number of Cyprus residents returning from trips abroad in November also rose by 14.1%, totaling 137,210.
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Top Destinations: Greece remains the overwhelming favorite for locals, accounting for 30.9% (42,442) of returns, followed by the United Kingdom (9.7%) and Italy (4.5%).
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Purpose of Trip: Vacationing was the primary driver for residents, making up 65.9% of outbound travel, while business trips accounted for 31.5%.
The combined data points to a highly active travel sector that is currently outperforming previous records and bolstering the national economy as 2025 draws to a close.
Source: Stockwatch.com.cy