According to Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis, Cyprus is on track to surpass its record-breaking tourist arrivals from 2019. Addressing the Parliamentary Finance Committee on Friday during the budget review for the Deputy Ministry, Koumis highlighted the island’s impressive tourism performance and optimistic projections for 2024.

Tourist arrivals for January to October 2024 have already outpaced previous years, with a 4.6% increase compared to 2023 and a 0.8% rise compared to 2019. 3.7 million visitors were recorded during this period, marking the best ten-month performance in Cyprus’ history. Additionally, tourism revenue from January to August grew by 4.6% year-on-year, demonstrating the sector’s robust recovery.

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The growth has been remarkable over a two-year span, with arrivals increasing by 26.7% and revenues climbing 31.2% compared to 2022. Tourism’s contribution to GDP has also grown significantly, rising from 10.9% in 2023 to an estimated 13.5% in 2024.

While per capita expenditure remained stable at €769, and daily spending slightly increased from €89 in 2023 to €90 in 2024, the average length of stay decreased to 8.56 days compared to 9.59 days in 2022. European markets have driven much of this growth, with notable increases in visitors from the UK, Germany, France, Finland, Poland, Switzerland, and Eastern European countries.

Koumis emphasized the government’s dedication to upgrading the country’s tourism sector, citing sustainability as a core focus for future development. “The Deputy Ministry’s 2025 budget reflects our commitment to enhancing Cyprus as a destination while transitioning to a model that prioritizes sustainability,” he stated, adding that the increased budget allocation underscores the strategic importance of tourism to the island’s economy.