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2024: A Pivotal Year For Tourism And Economic Growth In Cyprus

Deputy Minister for Tourism, Kostas Koumis, has described 2024 as a milestone year for Cyprus’s tourism sector, highlighting record-breaking achievements in visitor arrivals and revenue. His remarks, delivered on Friday, follow the release of impressive figures by the Statistical Service.

Tourism Reaches New Heights

Koumis expressed satisfaction with the sector’s recovery, noting that arrivals and revenue have returned to, and even exceeded pre-pandemic levels. According to the Deputy Ministry, revenue from January to September 2024 rose by 31.1% compared to 2022 and 15.3% compared to 2019. Arrivals for the January–October period increased by 4.6% from 2023, and 26.7% from 2022, and even surpassed 2019’s figures by 0.8%.

Additionally, Koumis pointed out that per capita expenditure remains steady, reflecting sustained economic benefits from tourism. Looking ahead to 2025, the ministry’s strategy prioritises investment in rural tourism, environmental preservation, and community-driven benefits.

Resilient Sector and Strategic Success

The Deputy Ministry credited the robust performance to effective market-targeting decisions and the resilience of the tourism sector. Koumis emphasised that Cyprus’s approach to diversifying its tourism offerings and focusing on quality experiences has yielded significant results.

Economic Highlights: Fiscal Surplus and Revenue Growth

Cyprus’s broader economic performance in 2024 also stands out. Preliminary data from the Statistical Service reveals a surplus of €1.43 billion (4.2% of GDP) for January–October, up from €664.8 million (2.1% of GDP) during the same period in 2023.

Revenue Growth

  • Total Revenue: Increased by 6.6%, reaching €11.69 billion.
  • Taxes on Production and Imports: Grew by 6.2%, with net VAT revenue rising 7.6%.
  • Income and Wealth Taxes: Surged by 16%, amounting to €2.9 billion.
  • Revenue from Goods and Services: Jumped by 29.9%, reaching €822.7 million.

While some areas, such as social benefits and employee compensation, saw increases, the overall fiscal picture remains positive, driven by disciplined spending and strong revenue growth.

Looking Forward

With record-breaking tourism figures and a strong fiscal position, Cyprus is well-positioned for sustainable economic growth. Investments in rural development, community benefits, and environmental sustainability ensure that both the tourism sector and the wider economy will continue to thrive in the years ahead.

Cyprus Job Vacancies Fall 7% As Hiring Demand Softens

Cyprus’ job vacancy rate fell to 2.6% in the second quarter of 2026, down from 2.8% in the previous quarter and 3.3% a year earlier, according to data from the Statistical Service, or Cystat.

Vacancies declined by 975, or 7%, from 13,905 in the first quarter. The drop points to softer hiring demand, although several sectors continue to face staffing shortages.

Hospitality Records Highest Vacancy Rate

Accommodation and food service activities had the highest vacancy rate at 4.6%, reflecting continued demand for workers in one of Cyprus’ most labor-intensive industries.

Transportation and storage and administrative and support services followed at 3.5% each, while construction recorded a 3.1% vacancy rate. Wholesale and retail trade stood at 3%.

Hospitality And Trade Have Most Openings

Accommodation and food service activities also recorded the largest number of vacancies, with 2,827 positions. Wholesale and retail trade followed with 2,286, while construction had 1,330.

Professional, scientific and technical activities recorded 874 vacancies, followed by transportation and storage with 859, manufacturing with 854, and administrative and support services with 789.

Public administration and defense had 665 vacancies, while human health and social work activities recorded 572. Information and communication activities had 441 openings, and financial and insurance activities had 398.

Vacancy Rates Vary Widely Across Sectors

Manufacturing and human health and social work activities each recorded vacancy rates of 2.2%. Publishing, broadcasting and content production, information and communication, and public administration and defense each stood at 2%.

Water supply and waste management and professional, scientific and technical activities recorded 1.9%, while other services stood at 1.8%, financial and insurance activities at 1.7%, and arts, sports and recreation at 1.5%.

Education had a vacancy rate of 0.7%, while electricity supply and real estate activities each stood at 0.6%. Mining and quarrying recorded no vacancies.

What Counts As A Job Vacancy

Cystat defines a job vacancy as a paid position that is newly created, unoccupied or about to become vacant, where an employer is actively seeking an external candidate and intends to fill the role immediately or within a specified period.

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