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UK Remains Top Market Amid Surge In Tourist Arrivals From Israel And Germany

Robust Growth In Cyprus Tourism

The latest report by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) reveals robust growth in Cyprus’ tourism sector, with a 12 percent increase in tourist arrivals in September 2025 compared to the same period last year, bringing the visitor count to 570,635. For the January to September period, tourism numbers surged by 10.3 percent, reaching 3,604,790, underscoring the island’s sustained appeal to international travelers.

Key Source Markets Driving Growth

The United Kingdom continues to dominate as the primary source market, constituting 31.4 percent of total arrivals with 179,293 visitors. Notably, Israel has emerged as a strong contributor, accounting for 14 percent (80,115 arrivals), while Poland (7.9 percent or 45,019 tourists) and Germany (6 percent or 34,348 visitors) follow closely behind. Germany and Israel, in particular, have recorded impressive year-on-year growth of 39.7 percent and 46.8 percent respectively, illustrating a dynamic shift in tourist origins.

Diversification And Market Adjustments

Additional markets such as Sweden, Romania, and Greece contribute modestly to the influx, with percentages ranging from 3 to 3.6 percent. Meanwhile, arrivals from Romania and Austria witnessed gains of 22.2 percent and 26.4 percent respectively, although the United Kingdom experienced a marginal decline of 0.9 percent. Slight downturns observed in France, Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden indicate that market variations remain a factor in the evolving tourism landscape.

Visitor Motives And Patterns

Analysis of travel purposes shows that an overwhelming 84.8 percent of visitors are drawn to Cyprus for holidays, complemented by 10.1 percent visiting friends and relatives, and 5 percent traveling for business. These consistent patterns reaffirm the island’s established reputation as a premier holiday destination.

Resilient Return Travel Trends

On the domestic front, the number of Cypriot residents returning from trips abroad climbed 6.4 percent to 166,129 in September 2025. Greece leads as the preferred destination for returning residents, accounting for 35.8 percent of the total return traffic, followed by notable numbers from Russia, the United Kingdom, and Italy. Despite global travel fluctuations, holiday travel remains the dominant purpose among Cypriot residents, demonstrating a steady trend towards leisure-based journeys.

Data Collection And Methodology

Cystat’s comprehensive survey, conducted at major entry points including Larnaca and Paphos airports along with administrative sources such as port arrivals, captures all individuals passing through passport control. It is important to note that these statistics reflect the number of trips rather than unique individuals, as travelers may undertake multiple trips within the period.

Central Bank Of Cyprus Balance Sheet Reflects Strong Eurosystem Position

Overview Of Financial Stability

The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) has released its latest balance sheet, reaffirming its steadfast role within the Eurosystem. The balance sheet, featuring total assets and liabilities of €29.545 billion, underscores the institution’s stable financial posture at the close of January 2026.

Asset Allocation And Strategic Holdings

Governor Christodoulos Patsalides issued the balance sheet, which details the CBC’s asset composition under the Eurosystem framework. Notably, the bank’s gold and gold receivables amounted to €1.635 billion, providing a significant hedge and stability to its balance sheet. Additional asset categories include claims on non-euro area residents denominated in foreign currency at €1.099 billion, while claims on euro area residents in both foreign and domestic currency add further depth to its portfolio.

The most substantial asset category, intra-Eurosystem claims, reached €19.438 billion, an indication of the CBC’s deep integration with its European counterparts. Furthermore, euro-denominated securities held by euro area residents contributed €6.587 billion. Despite a marked emphasis on these areas, lending to euro area credit institutions in monetary policy operations recorded no activity during the period.

Liability Structure And Monetary Policy Implications

On the liabilities side, banknotes in circulation contributed €3.218 billion. Liabilities to euro area credit institutions associated with monetary policy operations were notably the largest single category, totaling €17.636 billion. Supplementary liabilities included those to other euro area residents, which aggregated to €4.989 billion, with government liabilities playing a predominant role at €4.754 billion.

Other liability items, such as claims related to special drawing rights allocated by the International Monetary Fund at €494.193 million, and provisions of €596.571 million, further articulate the CBC’s exposure. Revaluation accounts stood at €1.643 billion, and overall capital and reserves were confirmed at €333.822 million, completing the picture of a well-capitalized institution.

Conclusive Insights And Strategic Alignment

The detailed breakdown illustrates the CBC’s sizeable intra-Eurosystem exposures, reinforcing its central role within Europe’s monetary landscape. With an asset-liability balance maintained at €29.545 billion, the CBC’s financial position remains robust, indicating a commitment to structural stability and strategic risk management.

This fiscal disclosure not only provides transparency into the CBC’s operations but also serves as a benchmark for comparative analysis among other central banks within the Eurosystem, highlighting the intricate balance between asset liquidity, regulatory oversight, and monetary policy imperatives.

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