A look at how the tourist map has changed in five years as Cyprus anticipates new arrivals record

There have been significant changes to the tourism map of Cyprus since the record year of arrivals in 2019, with markets that were in the top positions five years ago slipping down the list and others showing a marked increase.

The only market that has not only withstood the test time, but also cemented its position, is that of the United Kingdom, which maintains the lead while continuing, at the same time, an upward trend.

As can also be seen from the figures provided by CySTAT, Cyprus is heading towards a record in tourist arrivals in 2024, even if with a small difference compared to 2019.

2019 and 2024 arrivals

More specifically, and according to CySTAT, tourist arrivals in September 2024 amounted to 509,463 compared to 487,350 in the corresponding month last year, marking an increase of 4.5%, while in relation to September 2019 (524,707) there is a decrease of the order of 2.9%.

For the period January-September 2024, tourist arrivals amounted to 3,268,090 compared to 3,136,145 in the corresponding period of 2023, marking an increase of 4.2%, while in relation to 2019 (3,260,546) a small increase of the order of 0.2% was observed.

By month, tourist arrivals in 2024 compared to 2019 were as follows:

• January: 87,961 in 2024 compared to 81,970 in 2019 (up 7.3%)
• February: 125,034 in 2024 compared to 105,571 in 2019 (up 18.4%)
• March: 202,256 in 2024 compared to 169,934 in 2019 (up 19%)
• April: 333,563 in 2024 compared to 329,308 in 2019 (up 1.3%)
• May: 421,400 in 2024 compared to 434,578 in 2019 (down 3%)
• June: 482,261 in 2024 compared to 509,662 in 2019 (down 5.4%)
• July: 551,229 in 2024 vs. 550,971 in 2019 (up 0.05%)
• August: 554,923 in 2024 compared to 553,845 in 2019 (up 0.2%)
• September: 509,463 in 2024 compared to 524,707 in 2019 (down 2.9%)

The main markets

Regarding the main markets from which Cyprus attracts tourists, as mentioned above, this year there are significant differences compared to 2019.

More specifically, compared to 2019, in the first half of 2024 two countries maintained the same position they were in five years ago, three increased, three decreased and two were out of the top ten.

Based on the data, the United Kingdom remained stable in first place, even widening its gap from second place. In the first half of 2024, arrivals reached 1,128,947 compared to 1,102,807 in 2019, showing an increase of 2.4%.

In 2024, Israel rose to second place from third place five years ago, with arrivals reaching 359,510 compared to 238,946 in 2019, registering an increase of 50.5%.

Poland "flew" to third place in 2024, after being eighth five years ago, with tourist arrivals from the country having more than tripled. In the first six months of this year, they reached 267,595 compared to 63,155 in the corresponding period in 2019, registering an increase of 323.7%.

Germany rose to fourth place from sixth, with arrivals reaching 169,574 compared to 115,061 in 2019, showing an increase of 47.4%.

Greece fell to fifth place in 2024, losing one place compared to 2019. Based on the data, tourist arrivals from Greece in the first nine months of 2024 amounted to 138,143 compared to 129,323 in the January-September 2019 period, marking an increase of the order of 6.8%.

Sweden also fell one place lower than in 2019 - from fifth to sixth place - with tourist arrivals in the first nine months amounting to 104,527 compared to 125,525 five years ago, showing a decrease of 16.7%.

In seventh place, registering a large increase compared to 2019, was France, with tourist arrivals reaching 80,602 compared to 24,683 five years ago, registering an increase of 226.5%.

In 2024, Romania rose to eighth place from 11th in 2019, with arrivals from the country reaching 76,693 compared to 46,646 five years ago, showing an increase of 64.4%.

In 2024, Austria rose to ninth place from 13th in 2019, with tourist arrivals from the country reaching 59,288 compared to 34,732 five years ago, marking an increase of 70.7%.

Switzerland fell to tenth place from ninth five years ago with tourist arrivals reaching 57,357 in 2024 compared to 53,581 in 2019, registering an increase of 7%.

The countries left out of the top ten

As for the countries that five years ago were in the top ten and have now fallen several places lower, these are the once strong tourism player Russia and Ukraine.

Russia, on the other hand, slipped from second place in 2019 to 16th place this year, while Ukraine fell from seventh place to 20th place.

Based on the data, tourist arrivals from Russia were limited to 34,520 in the first half of 2019 compared to 654,500 in the corresponding period of 2019, recording a significant drop of 94.7%.

Arrivals from Ukraine were limited to 18,794 in 2024 compared to 71,622 in 2019, showing a decrease of 74.8%.

It is noted that Russia and Ukraine have been at war since February 2022.

(Source: InBusinessNews)