Cyprus tourism revenue crashed 33.8% in March, with official figures showing the collapse in Israeli visitor numbers as the dominant cause of a loss the industry warns will be difficult to recover.
The Statistical Service published figures on Tuesday showing tourism receipts fell to €85.6 million in March 2026, down from €129.4 million in March 2025, a drop of €43.8 million. For the first quarter of 2026, total tourism revenue stood at €245.5 million against €278.3 million in the same period last year, a decline of 11.8%.
Israeli arrivals bore the brunt of the collapse, falling to 1,537 in March 2026 from 28,353 in March 2025. The market has traditionally recorded the highest daily spend among Cyprus’s main source markets; in March 2025, Israeli visitors spent an average of €194.69 per day.
Tourist arrivals overall fell 30.7% in March, to 139,198 from 200,736 the previous year. For the January-March period, arrivals reached 407,339 against 446,596 in 2025, a decline of 8.8%. April figures showed a further drop of 27.6%, with 303,031 arrivals compared to 418,730 in April 2025. For the full January-April period, arrivals stood at 710,370 against 865,326 in 2025, down 17.9%.
The Statistical Service noted that the drone attack on the British RAF base at Akrotiri in March triggered travel warnings from several countries, contributing to the downturn.
Last-minute bookings
Speaking to Phileleftheros, Cyprus Hotels Association (PASYXE) Director General Christos Angelides said the island had unfortunately lost its best booking months for the summer, with March and April typically generating the bulk of forward reservations for the peak season. He said the focus had now shifted to last-minute bookings, though competition from established destinations was fierce and covering the losses recorded so far would be difficult. Angelides estimated revenue losses for the year could reach around 20% compared to last year.
He also noted that a number of hotels were now offering prices 10-20% lower than last year and encouraged travellers to research and take advantage of the reductions.
US and UK upgrade travel advisories
Amid the difficult picture, the United States and the United Kingdom both upgraded their travel advisories for Cyprus, restoring the island to their lists of safe destinations.
The US State Department returned Cyprus to Level 1 — its standard advisory level, recommending normal precautions. The department described Cyprus as generally a safe destination for travellers, while advising against crossing the buffer zone at any point other than designated crossing points. The State Department also advised American citizens to enter and exit Cyprus only through Larnaca and Paphos airports or the ports of Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos, noting that those travelling through the illegal airport in the occupied north may face difficulties re-entering the Republic of Cyprus in the future.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice for Cyprus, removing the exceptional warnings added following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the drone attack on Akrotiri. Under the previous version, Cyprus had been grouped with at least 17 other countries in the wider region under a special warning citing an increased risk of regional tension. Those references have now been removed from the updated advice. General safety guidance for travellers remains in place, but the updated advice no longer makes specific reference to elevated regional risk or potential travel disruption linked to the situation in the Middle East.
The Foreign Ministry described the advisory changes as a positive development for Cyprus’s image as a tourist destination. PASYXE also welcomed the upgrades, saying they reflected the coordinated efforts of the government during the crisis, including by the Presidency and the Foreign Ministry, to restore the country’s international standing.
Kazakhstan link
Shortly before departing for Kazakhstan, President Nikos Christodoulides said the air connection between the two countries would further strengthen efforts to develop political, economic and tourism ties with Kazakhstan, which he described as a very important Central Asian country with a population exceeding 20 million.
“During my visit, in addition to a meeting with the President of the country, important bilateral agreements will be signed, our embassy in the country will be inaugurated, and I will participate in a business forum. My joy and satisfaction are even greater because my trip to Astana, together with members of the Cabinet and a large business delegation, is taking place on Air Astana, on its first flight connecting Cyprus with Kazakhstan,” Christodoulides said.
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