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Higher Visitor Spending Helps Offset Decline In Cyprus Tourism Arrivals

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 1, 2026

Denmark recorded 7,098 arrivals in June, down from 9,058 a year earlier. Danish visitors stayed longer, averaging eight days versus seven, and spent €746.45 per person, up from €718.95 in June 2025. Daily expenditure, however, declined to €93.31 from €102.71.

The Netherlands also recorded fewer arrivals, falling to 3,997 from 6,273, while average stays shortened to 7.4 days from eight. Spending per visitor dropped to €867.21 from €993.70, and daily expenditure declined to €117.19 from €124.21.

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Sweden Bucks The Trend

Sweden stood out among the European markets, with arrivals increasing to 26,884 from 23,750. Average stays also rose to 7.8 days from 7.3, while spending per visitor increased to €861.16 from €788.14 and daily expenditure climbed to €110.41 from €107.96.

Long-Haul Markets Show High Value, Limited Volume

Norway recorded 9,239 arrivals, down from 10,148, but remained one of Cyprus’ highest-spending visitor markets. Tourists from Norway stayed an average of 7.7 days and spent €1,103.25 per person, or €143.28 per day, although Cystat did not consider comparable June 2025 expenditure figures sufficiently reliable.

The United States recorded 7,178 arrivals, slightly below 7,310 a year earlier. American visitors stayed an average of 13.3 days and spent €826.91 per person, or €62.17 per day, while comparable June 2025 expenditure data was also classified as having low reliability.

Italy And Greece See Longer Stays And Higher Spending

Italy saw arrivals fall to 4,178 from 6,332, but average stays increased to 6.2 days from 5.7. Spending rose to €612.30 per visitor, while daily expenditure reached €98.76.

Greece recorded 13,910 arrivals, down from 15,960, but visitors stayed significantly longer, averaging 8.1 days compared with 5.8 days in June 2025. Spending per visitor increased to €620.68 from €398.38, while daily expenditure rose to €76.63 from €68.69.

Data Reliability Limits Some Comparisons

Cystat flagged June 2026 data for Belgium and Switzerland as having low reliability, limiting direct year-over-year comparisons. Lebanon’s stay and expenditure figures were also classified as low reliability, while comparable data for Finland was considered insufficiently reliable.

What The Data Suggest For Cyprus Tourism

June figures point to a mixed tourism picture, with arrivals declining across several key European markets while spending increased in selected segments. Sweden, Greece and Italy recorded stronger spending, while Norway remained a high-value market despite lower visitor numbers.

For Cyprus, the data show that longer stays and higher per-visitor spending can partly offset weaker arrivals. Those gains, however, have not fully reversed the broader weakness recorded during the first half of the year.

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Europe’s Busiest Ports Show The Scale Of Maritime Trade

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 7, 2026

Maritime transport carried roughly 13 billion tonnes of goods worldwide in 2024, highlighting its central role in global trade and supply chains. EU ports handled about 3.4 billion tonnes, or 26% of the global total, while nearly 90% of the bloc’s external freight trade is carried by sea.

Rotterdam And Antwerp-Bruges Lead The EU

Rotterdam was the EU’s busiest port in 2024, handling 397.3 million tonnes of goods. Antwerp-Bruges ranked second with 243.7 million tonnes, putting the two northern European hubs well ahead of the rest.

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Hamburg ranked third at 97 million tonnes, followed by Spain’s Algeciras at 81.5 million tonnes and Amsterdam at 78.8 million tonnes. France’s HAROPA port complex, covering Le Havre and Rouen, handled 76.6 million tonnes, while Gdansk recorded 71 million tonnes.

Marseille and Valencia followed with 66 million and 64.5 million tonnes, respectively. Romania’s Constanta completed the top 10 at 57.6 million tonnes, reflecting the Black Sea’s role in Europe’s wider trade network.

Europe’s Second Tier Of Major Ports

Several ports handled between 40 million and 56 million tonnes in 2024. Barcelona recorded 55.5 million tonnes, followed by Trieste at 53.5 million, Genoa at 47.4 million and Sines at 44.1 million.

Piraeus handled 43.7 million tonnes, while Germany’s Bremerhaven recorded 42.5 million. Sweden’s Göteborg handled 38.5 million tonnes and Dunkerque in France 36.8 million.

Netherlands Leads By National Port Volume

Looking at total cargo across each country’s ports, the Netherlands ranked first with 538.1 million tonnes in 2024. Italy followed with 488.6 million tonnes and Spain with 486 million tonnes, putting all three well ahead of the rest of the EU.

Belgium ranked fourth at 274.9 million tonnes, followed by Germany at 273.9 million and France at 269.8 million. Greece, Sweden and Poland each handled more than 100 million tonnes, showing the breadth of Europe’s maritime network.

Turkey Expands The Regional Picture

Including EU candidate countries and EFTA members puts Turkey in second place with 524.7 million tonnes, behind the Netherlands. Norway ranked eighth with 212.1 million tonnes and handled 212.1 million tonnes.

The European Commission has described maritime transport as a long-standing driver of European economic development. Its role now extends beyond moving cargo, with ports increasingly tied to supply chains, energy security and industrial policy.

In March 2026, the Commission adopted two strategies focused on competitiveness, sustainability, security and resilience across the EU’s waterborne sector, including ports, shipping and shipbuilding.