Revenue from tourism reached €2,439.2m in 2022, with arrivals up 86%

Revenue from tourism was estimated at €2,439.2m in 2022, a huge increase from €1,513.6m in 2021 and €392.0m in 2020 (the pandemic years), according to CySTAT’s recently-released “Tourism Statistics” for the years 2021-2022.

As a result, tourism revenue recorded an increase of 61.2% in 2022 compared to the year before. The average expenditure per person was €761.92 (down 2.5% from 2021), while the highest average expenditure per person was recorded in the month of August 2022, with €885.98, and the lowest in December 2022 with €523.42.

2022 arrivals were up 85.8%

In terms of total arrivals, 4,833,939 travellers visited the island, recording an annual increase of 85.8%, with departures totalling 4,815,779, also recording an increase of 86.4%, compared to 2021. In 2020, arrivals of travellers reached 1,164,938 and departures 1,167,942. Air traffic represented 95.5% of arrivals and 95.4% of departures in 2022.

Tourists arrivals increased by 65.3% and reached 3,201,080 in 2022 compared to 1,936,931 in 2021. In 2020 tourist arrivals were estimated at 631,609.

UK continues to be the main market

During 2022, the United Kingdom was the most important source of tourism for Cyprus with a share of 37.9% of total tourist traffic, followed by Israel with 8.7%, Germany (6.2%), Poland (5.8%), Greece (5.3%), Sweden (3.7%), Austria (2.2%) and Denmark (2.1%).

Out of the total number of tourists, 35.7% stated that they stayed in Paphos, 16.2% in Ayia Napa, 12.1% in Larnaca, 12.0% in Limassol, 11.2% in Paralimni and smaller proportions in other areas. For 80.8% of the tourists, the purpose of their trip in 2022 was to holiday, for 13.0% to visit friends and relatives, and for 6.1% business.

Cyprus residents’ trips abroad increased 145.2%

The trips of residents of Cyprus abroad increased by 145.2% in 2022 reaching 1,259,643 compared to 513,660 in 2021 and 485,806 in 2020. In 2022 about 36.0% visited Greece, 14.5% the UK, 4.8% Italy, 3.5% Germany, 3.1% Bulgaria and 2.7% France.

The peak-season for residents travelling abroad was the period of July-September 2022. A percentage of 72.3% of the residents of Cyprus travelling abroad in 2022 stated that the main reason for travelling was holidays, 17.9% stated professional reasons, 7.0% studies and 2.8% other purposes.

CySTAT said its data is obtained from the Passengers Survey which is carried out at the points of arrival at Larnaca and Paphos airports. Additionally, data are also collected from administrative sources, such as the monthly arrivals from ports.

The data covers all persons who pass through passport control at the ports and airports in the Government controlled area of Cyprus. It does not include travellers who arrive and depart illegally via ports and airports in the occupied part of Cyprus.

(Photo: Cyprus Tourism Organisation)