Israeli media outlets have reported extensively in recent weeks on a partial recovery in tourism to Cyprus, linking the earlier decline to the fallout from the war with Iran and describing the island as a nearby, low-cost destination for Israeli travellers.
Walla reported that the Cypriot tourism market is gradually recovering, with a significant contribution from Israel. According to the outlet, geographic proximity, frequent flights and Israelis’ familiarity with Cyprus make the island a preferred choice, particularly for short breaks. The same report noted that despite a period of uncertainty, Israeli demand returned quickly once flights resumed.
Financial website Calcalist reported that around 590,000 Israelis travelled to Cyprus in 2025, a figure up 39% compared with 2024. The outlet attributed the rise to the short flight duration, the treatment of Israeli visitors, the fall in the euro against the shekel, and the fact that Cyprus was already cheaper than Israel.
Calcalist also noted that eight airlines currently operate on Israel-Cyprus routes, with around 150 weekly flights to Larnaca and Paphos. The outlet quoted Louiza Varakla, director of the Israeli Deputy Ministry of Tourism’s office, as saying “Israelis love Cyprus and Cyprus loves them.”
In similar terms, Mako/N12 described Cyprus as an attractive destination that continues to draw Israeli visitors, citing pricing, resorts, safety, food, casinos and a flight time of around 40 minutes. A separate Mako/N12 report on the wider European market described a restart following around 40 days of disruption due to the war with Iran, noting that countries such as Cyprus and Greece are already considerably cheaper than Israel. Similar coverage has appeared in Israel Hayom, Maariv and the financial magazine Globes.
(information from CNA)