Cyprus residents are heading for another record year of overseas travel, with around 2.1 million trips expected in 2026, up from 1.96 million in 2025.
Speaking to state radio, Association of Cyprus Travel and Tourism Agents (ACTTA) president Haris Papacharalambous said that, if current trends continue, 2026 will mark the fourth consecutive year in which overseas trips by permanent residents reach a new all-time high.
He attributed the growth both to Cypriots’ increasing appetite for travel and improved air connectivity, which has expanded the range of destinations available and increased flight frequencies.
Greece remains by far the top destination
Greece continues to dominate travel choices among Cyprus residents, accounting for around one-third of all trips abroad.
Papacharalambous said almost 700,000 trips to Greece are expected this year, with the UK and other European destinations traditionally following.
Poland, Spain and Romania are also gaining ground, largely due to an increase in direct flights and a wider range of options for travellers.
Japan has also steadily grown in popularity among Cypriot travellers in recent years, particularly for organised holidays.
However, Papacharalambous stressed that “Japan’s numbers cannot be compared in any way with those of Greece”.
Travellers returning to traditional agencies
According to the ACTTA president, a significant share of travellers have returned to travel agencies since the pandemic, particularly when planning long-haul or more complicated trips.
For destinations such as Japan, he said specialist advice and having professionals organise the trip continue to offer significant advantages.
Israel offsets decline from European markets
Turning to inbound tourism, Papacharalambous said arrivals are running close to last year’s levels despite continued pressure from important European markets.
Even in July, arrivals from European countries were down by almost 10% compared with the same month last year.
“This gap is mainly being covered by the Israeli market,” Papacharalambous said.
However, higher arrivals do not necessarily translate into an equivalent increase in overnight stays, as visitors from Israel typically spend less time in Cyprus than European tourists.
Winter tourism remains key challenge
Despite the tourism industry’s positive overall performance, Papacharalambous said developing winter tourism remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges.
He called for a long-term strategic plan with clear objectives and concrete measures that would give airlines, tour operators and investors confidence that Cyprus can offer a stable and competitive tourism product throughout the winter months.
Cyprus already has significant infrastructure and potential, he said, but needs to focus more closely on areas where it can develop a competitive advantage, including conference and sports tourism.
“The important thing is not just to set targets, but to have a specific plan for how you are going to achieve them,” Papacharalambous said.
He stressed that sustainably developing winter tourism will be crucial to the future competitiveness of the country’s tourism industry.
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