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Cyprus Kicks Off 2025 With A 27% Surge In Tourist Arrivals

Cyprus’ tourism sector is off to a strong start in 2025, with tourist arrivals surging by 27.4% in January compared to the same month last year. The growth signals the success of ongoing efforts to position the island as a year-round destination, particularly during the traditionally quieter winter months.

Key Numbers: A Strong Start To The Year

According to CySTAT, 112,100 tourists arrived in Cyprus in January 2025, up from 87,961 in January 2024. Israel led as the top source market, accounting for 21.1% (23,704 arrivals), followed by:

  • United Kingdom – 16.7% (18,701 arrivals)
  • Poland – 14.1% (15,791 arrivals)
  • Greece – 10.1% (11,288 arrivals)

Shifting Travel Trends

While vacations remained the primary reason for visiting Cyprus, accounting for 56.4% of arrivals, the share of tourists traveling for business increased to 19.0%, up from 17.2% in January 2024. Meanwhile, 24.5% visited friends and family, slightly higher than the previous year.

Winter Tourism On The Rise

The steady increase in arrivals suggests that Cyprus’ strategy to boost winter tourism is gaining traction. With its mild climate, diverse cultural experiences, and targeted promotional campaigns, the island is attracting more visitors beyond the peak summer months—setting a strong precedent for the year ahead.

Cyprus To Add 125MW Of Battery Storage Before Summer 2027

Electricity storage batteries are expected to arrive in Cyprus in January 2027, with installation scheduled to be completed before next summer’s peak demand season, Energy Minister Michael Damianos said on Sunday.

Storage Capacity Set To Expand Grid Flexibility

Damianos said contracts have already been signed with the supplier and the Transmission System Operator (TSO) for the battery storage project.

Once operational, the facilities will add 125 megawatts (MW) of storage capacity to the national grid, allowing more renewable electricity to be stored instead of being curtailed during periods of excess generation. The minister said the system is expected to be operational before the summer of 2027.

Addressing Evening Demand

Cyprus currently has just over 1,000MW of conventional electricity generation, which Damianos said is generally sufficient during daytime hours. Demand becomes more challenging after sunset, when solar generation falls while electricity consumption, driven largely by air-conditioning, remains high.

He said battery storage will allow electricity generated during the day to be used during the evening peak.

Additional Projects Under Development

Damianos said approvals have also been granted for 150MW of privately owned battery storage projects, which are expected to become operational during 2027.

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) is developing an additional 180MW of storage capacity. Two projects, with capacities of 80MW and 100MW, are expected to be completed before next summer.

According to the minister, several hundred megawatts of battery storage capacity are expected to be connected to the national grid by the end of 2027.

Power Supply Before The Batteries Arrive

Asked how electricity demand would be managed before the storage projects are completed, Damianos said the Transmission System Operator considers the system capable of meeting demand under normal operating conditions.

He said last week’s power supply disruptions were caused by a fault at one of the EAC’s generators and that both the utility and the TSO are working to maintain system reliability with the existing generation capacity.

Damianos added that, provided there are no unexpected outages, the electricity system is expected to remain stable, with the period immediately after sunset continuing to pose the greatest challenge.

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