Paphos is hosting 36 members of the British Guild of Travel Writers on a week-long familiarisation visit as Cyprus works to rebuild its tourism sector following a sharp drop in bookings caused by the Iran conflict.
The press trip, running from April 27 to May 1 and organised by the Pafos Regional Board of Tourism in collaboration with Constantinou Bros Hotels, comes at a difficult moment for the industry.
Tourist arrivals in Cyprus fell 30% in March compared to a previously forecast increase of 10%, according to the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents, with significant declines continuing into the second half of April and May. The Cyprus Hotels Association recorded a near 40% drop in bookings for March and a similar reduction in April, after a drone struck the Akrotiri British base on the island on March 2, triggering a wave of cancellations. Budget airlines including EasyJet and Jet2 have reported weakening demand for Cyprus, with travellers shifting toward western Mediterranean destinations such as Spain.
The visit by the British Guild of Travel Writers, one of Cyprus’s most valuable source markets, is part of a joint strategy between the Paphos Regional Board of Tourism and the private sector to strengthen the destination’s profile through experiential tourism, thematic guided tours and direct exposure to the region’s cultural, gastronomic and natural offerings.
Participants will visit some of the region’s most prominent landmarks, including the Birthplace of Aphrodite, the Old Town, the Tombs of the Kings, Paphos Medieval Castle and the Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, as well as experiencing the destination’s smart digital visitor applications at key archaeological sites.
The programme also includes visits to wineries and agritourism establishments, with a focus on local cuisine and Cypriot produce, alongside a dedicated thematic route taking in the Polis Chrysochous and Akamas Peninsula areas, Lara Bay, the Turtle Museum in Innia, the Smigies Nature Trail and the Baths of Aphrodite.
As part of the programme, participants will attend a sunset cocktail reception and dinner in the presence of Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis.
Cyprus recorded a record 4.53 million tourist arrivals in 2025, up 12.2% year on year, before the conflict disrupted the sector’s momentum heading into the 2026 summer season.