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2025 Sets New Benchmark For Cypriot Tourism: Record Arrivals And Revenue Surge

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 27, 2026

Record-Breaking Arrivals And Revenue

Cyprus’ tourism sector reached record levels in 2025, with arrivals exceeding 4.5 million for the first time, according to Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis. Speaking in an interview on February 26, 2026, Koumis said arrivals increased 12.2% compared with 2024 and 41.6% over three years.

Tourism revenue rose 15.3% year over year during the January–November period, while growth over three years reached 51.1%. Average spending per visitor increased to €822 from €799 in 2024, and daily spending rose 7.2% to €99.5.

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The average length of stay declined by 4% to 8.27 days, but overnight stays are projected to reach 18.5 million, up 3.3% from 2024.

Enhanced Product Quality And Strategic Incentives

Tourism contributed 14% to Cyprus’ GDP in 2025, up from 13.1% a year earlier, reinforcing its role as a key economic sector. Officials estimate overall economic growth at 3.75% for 2025, above the eurozone average.

Between 2023 and 2025, tourism revenues totaled €9.9 billion. During the 2022–2025 period, policy focus shifted toward restoring sector performance and upgrading tourism quality through targeted incentive programs.

In 2025, the ministry launched 13 incentive schemes, including four funded under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, with total funding approaching €20 million. Key measures included:

153 projects aimed at supporting rural, mountainous, and remote areas, with budgets of up to €7 million.
Upgrades to 48 hotels and tourist accommodations, totaling up to €6.9 million in investment.
€1.3 million allocated to improve dining venues and retail outlets promoting traditional products.
Seven approved projects in health and wellness tourism worth about €1.2 million

Additional initiatives included digital transformation programs, support for conferences and sporting events, dive certification projects, beach upgrades, and workshops promoting traditional crafts and local products.

Strategic Initiatives And Specialized Tourism

The Ministry of Tourism is updating the National Tourism Strategy 2035 and relaunching the tour guide training program after a seven-year pause. Digital application processes developed with TEPAK aim to improve visitor experience and operational efficiency.

In specialized tourism, authorities completed a three-dimensional mapping of diving sites and conducted a dedicated study on dive tourism. Future research will focus on health tourism, as well as nature and rural tourism.

Agritourism recorded more than 90,000 arrivals in 2025, up 3% year over year and 40.9% over three years. Cruise tourism also expanded, with passenger numbers rising 104% to 278,000 compared with 136,000 in 2024.

Cypriot EU Presidency And Legislative Initiatives

As Cyprus prepares for its EU Council Presidency in 2026, officials expect more than 30,000 conference participants and the organization of around 250 events.

The ministry is preparing policy proposals linked to the European tourism agenda, including Council Conclusions on Tourism planned for May 2026. Legislative initiatives include draft regulations for dive tourism and proposals to modernize licensing rules for food and entertainment venues.

Cyprus has also signed memoranda of understanding with Israel and Saudi Arabia aimed at strengthening tourism cooperation and supporting long-term sector growth.

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Ryanair Cuts 20 Routes In Belgium As Aviation Taxes And Fuel Costs Rise

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 20, 2026

Ryanair is cutting 20 routes and more than one million seats from its Belgian winter 2026 schedule, citing higher aviation taxes and rising fuel costs. The airline said it would reduce its fleet by six aircraft across Brussels Charleroi and Brussels Zaventem, representing a $600 million reduction in investment.

At the centre of the dispute is Belgium’s planned aviation tax increase, from €2 per ticket in January 2025 to €7 in January 2027. Ryanair argues that higher charges will make the country less competitive than European markets with lower operating costs.

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O’Leary Warns Of Higher Fares In 2027

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary has also warned that airfares could rise significantly next year as the airline’s existing fuel price protection expires.

“We guarantee no fuel surcharges, but there is no doubt that air fares are going to rise significantly in 2027 because of much higher oil prices,” O’Leary told Euronews.

The airline has secured fuel prices at approximately $67 per barrel for 2026 through advance pricing agreements. O’Leary expects costs to roughly double next year as that protection ends.

Oil prices have risen amid the war in the Middle East and concerns over supply routes through the Persian Gulf. Brent crude closed at $109.86 per barrel on Friday, its highest level since May, before moving above $110, according to the report.

Belgium Faces Pressure Over Aviation Taxes

O’Leary argues that aviation taxes do more than increase airline costs: they can also redirect passenger traffic, investment and tourism towards countries with lower charges.

“The Belgian government is doing exactly the opposite,” he said, warning that the planned increase could discourage investment, reduce passenger numbers, hurt tourism and cost jobs.

Ryanair said it had already redirected six aircraft, more than one million seats and 20 routes away from Belgium for winter 2026. The airline warned that further cuts could follow if the tax remains unchanged.

It also criticised the EU emissions trading system, arguing that it raises the cost of intra-EU flights while flights to destinations outside the bloc do not face the same burden. O’Leary called for Belgium to abolish aviation taxes, saying higher charges would shift demand and tourism towards more competitively priced destinations elsewhere in Europe.

Airlines Face Wider Cost Pressures

Belgium’s planned tax increase was reduced from an earlier proposal to charge €10 per ticket following industry pressure. Ryanair maintains, however, that the revised rate remains too high.

The capacity cuts come as other airlines also adjust their schedules amid challenging market conditions. Sweden’s SAS and easyJet have both reduced flights this year.

Ryanair is urging the Belgian government to reconsider the tax, warning that maintaining higher charges could further weaken the country’s aviation market.