Cyprus tourism revenue growth slows following conflict outbreak

Cyprus tourism revenue reached €159.9 million in the first two months of 2026, marking a 7.4% increase compared to the same period in 2025. In February 2026, arrivals rose by 9.5%, though per capita spending fell by 2.3% to €581.85. The United Kingdom was the largest market at 19.3% of arrivals, while Poland followed at 18.4%. Israeli tourists, who accounted for 12.6% of arrivals, recorded the highest daily spending at €157.15, significantly exceeding the €72.72 and €75.02 spent by British and Polish visitors respectively. Following the outbreak of conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran on February 28, the sector experienced a sharp downturn. Total arrivals in March 2026 fell by 30.7%, dropping from 200,736 in 2025 to 139,198. For the January-March 2026 period, overall arrivals declined by 8.8% to 407,339. The decline was compounded by reports of a drone strike on the British base at Akrotiri on March 2.