Breaking news

Cyprus Poised For Year-Round Tourism Success Amid Summer Peak

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 7, 2025

Cyprus is set to redefine its tourism landscape, building on a stellar summer record while preparing an ambitious expansion of its winter offerings. Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis outlined a strategy aimed at capturing a larger share of the winter market during discussions at the 45th annual World Travel Market (WTM) 2025 in London, an event renowned for convening over 40,000 industry professionals from more than 180 countries.

Capitalizing On Summer Strength And Winter Opportunities

Koumis confidently noted that the island’s summer performance has reached unprecedented heights, forecasting its continuation into 2026. He emphasized that while the summer season has peaked, the pressing challenge now is to boost the winter tourism segment. The deputy minister cited a 5.2% increase in tourist arrivals from the British market between January and September 2025 compared to the previous year as a testament to Cyprus’ growing appeal.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Strategic Alliances And Expanded Winter Programs

Conversations with strategic tourism partners at the WTM revealed an optimistic outlook for winter programmes. Major British tour operators are expected to enhance their winter offerings significantly, a move that could transform Cyprus into a year-round destination. Koumis stressed that expanding winter initiatives is essential for maintaining revenue momentum, even as summer operations reach saturation.

Shifting Investment Models And Infrastructure Innovation

WTM 2025 featured over 70 sessions and panel discussions, during which industry leaders discussed topics ranging from artificial intelligence to sustainable infrastructures. Koumis contributed to several panels including one on rethinking investment models in tourism, while also engaging in bilateral discussions with officials such as Serbian Tourism Minister Husein Memic on future cooperation.

Robust Data And Future Growth Prospects

The latest statistics fortify Cyprus’ growth narrative: between January and September 2025, tourist arrivals surged by 10.3% year-on-year to 3.6 million, with tourism revenue climbing to €1.89 billion in the first seven months. Additionally, Cyprus recorded the highest increase in hotel overnight stays in Europe, and the revenue percentage among European Mediterranean destinations remains unmatched.

Building A Sustainable Year-Round Model

Industry experts, including Christos Angelides, Director General of the Cyprus Hoteliers Association, underscored the importance of an integrated ecosystem where hotels, local businesses, and communities collaborate to extend tourism beyond the summer months. Plans are already underway for several hotels in Ayia Napa, Protaras, and the Famagusta district to extend operations into November 2025, ensuring a prolonged engagement with visitors.

Diversification And Future Vision

Further bolstering its strategy, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism is diversifying the island’s tourism product by promoting sports, wellness, gastronomy, and conference tourism. These efforts aim to reduce the historical dependency on the sun-and-sea model, positioning Cyprus as a destination that offers authentic and sustainable experiences all year round.

As Cyprus prepares to extend its tourism window, the focus on winter growth and sustainable practices marks a pivotal shift in the island’s economic strategy, promising robust returns and enduring success in the competitive global landscape.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus And Greece Outline Joint Tourism Plans For Summer 2026

Strategic Partnership Enhances Tourism Prospects

The Cyprus Tourism Authority (EOT Cyprus) presented proposals for summer 2026 focused on strengthening tourism cooperation between Cyprus and Greece, with joint efforts aimed at attracting visitors from long-haul markets.

Greece: The Top Destination For Cypriot Travelers

At an event on April 28, Athena Spakouri, Director of EOT Cyprus, said Greece is expected to remain the main travel destination for Cypriot residents, with plans extending beyond established locations to include lesser-known regions. This approach reflects a broader effort to diversify travel options while maintaining strong demand between the two countries.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Complementary Destinations, Unified Vision

Building on this, Spakouri noted that Cyprus and Greece offer complementary tourism experiences rather than competing directly. Joint programmes are therefore being positioned to attract visitors from markets such as the United States and China, while tourism activity continues to be assessed in the context of broader geopolitical developments.

Robust Air And Sea Connectivity

Supporting this cooperation, Konstantinos Kollias said around 600,000 Cypriots travelled to Greece in 2025. Frequent flights, short travel times, and ferry connections between Limassol and Piraeus continue to facilitate movement between the two countries and sustain travel flows.

Diverse Tourism Offerings for a New Era

Konstantinos Kollias highlighted that Greece’s tourism portfolio spans from traditional seaside holidays to sectors such as cultural, religious, gastronomic, agritourism, ecotourism, spa, conference, and medical tourism.

This range reflects the expansion of tourism offerings across different segments and travel preferences. In parallel, Joseph Iosif referred to Greece as a “second homeland” for Cypriot travellers, pointing to longstanding cultural and travel links between the two countries.

Innovative Programs And Strengthened Connections

Building on this approach, the EOT strategy includes initiatives focused on gastronomic routes, cultural trails, thematic and religious tourism, as well as curated city breaks in destinations such as Athens and Thessaloniki. These programmes were presented at the event alongside references to historical, cultural, and religious connections between Cyprus and Greece, including remarks from Bishop Gregorios of Mesaoria.

Boosting Air Connectivity And Island Accessibility

At the same time, airlines including Aegean Airlines, Sky Express, and Cyprus Airways outlined plans to expand connections between Cyprus and Greece, with a focus on increasing access to island destinations. The event also brought together stakeholders from the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Hermes Airports, tour operators, and ACTAA, reflecting coordination across different parts of the tourism sector.