Tourism bodies in the free Famagusta district have launched a major digital marketing campaign targeting six European markets, as Cyprus grapples with a sharp drop in visitor numbers linked to the US-led war against Iran.
Overall tourist arrivals in Cyprus fell 17.9% in the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to official figures, with April alone recording a 28% decline.
The campaign is being led by the Famagusta branch of the Cyprus Hotels Association and is running for the third consecutive year. Partners include the Famagusta Tourism Development and Promotion Company (ETAP), the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the municipalities of Ayia Napa and Paralimni-Deryneia, Bank of Cyprus, and tourism businesses across the district.
ETAP describes the campaign as one of the largest and most organised digital promotion efforts ever undertaken for the free Famagusta district. It targets the UK, Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Sweden, as well as countries across the broader Eastern Mediterranean region.
Promotion runs across social media platforms, search engines, digital media and specialist tourism websites, with audiovisual and thematic content focusing on Protaras, Ayia Napa and the wider district hinterland. The campaign highlights the area’s beaches, gastronomy, cultural and sports events, and family holiday offering.
The stated goals are to strengthen the district’s international profile, increase arrivals and extend the tourist season beyond its traditional peak.
According to ETAP, the campaign supports its broader strategy of promoting the Famagusta district in Cyprus’s key overseas markets through targeted digital tools.
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