Cyprus Records One Of The EU’s Highest Shares Of International Visitors

Cyprus’s Impressive Performance In Q1 2026

According to the latest Eurostat data, Cyprus recorded one of the highest shares of international overnight stays in the European Union during the first quarter of 2026. International visitors accounted for 85.6% of all overnight stays in Cyprus, placing the country behind Malta (93.3%) and ahead of Luxembourg (85.1%).

Comparative Analysis Across The EU

Cyprus and several Mediterranean destinations continued to record a high proportion of international visitors. By comparison, international overnight stays accounted for 19.9% of the total in Germany, 20.2% in Poland and 22.4% in Romania. Across the European Union, non-resident visitors represented 46.6% of all overnight stays during the quarter.

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Monthly Trends And Market Dynamics In Cyprus

Cyprus recorded 368,639 overnight stays in January, 476,000 in February and 503,579 in March 2026 across hotels, holiday accommodation and other short-stay establishments. January overnight stays increased by 14.43% year-on-year, while February recorded growth of 32.17% compared with the same month in 2025. March, however, registered a decline of 36.81%.

EU-Wide Growth And Sectoral Shifts

Across the European Union, overnight stays in tourist accommodation establishments reached 471.1 million during the first quarter of 2026, representing a 3.4% increase from the same period a year earlier. January recorded 143.5 million overnight stays, up 3.2% year-on-year. February increased by 3.4% to 154.4 million, while March rose by 3.7% to 173.2 million. Ireland recorded the largest increase in overnight stays at 35.3%, followed by Malta at 11.1% and Denmark at 9.3%. Nine member states reported declines, including Lithuania (-12.9%), Romania (-6.7%) and Luxembourg (-3.8%).

Shifting Dynamics In International And Domestic Markets

International overnight stays across the EU increased by 5.5% compared with the first quarter of 2025, while domestic overnight stays rose by 1.7%. Ireland recorded the strongest increase in international overnight stays at 42.3%, followed by Lithuania at 24.1% and Slovakia at 15.4%. Latvia (-7.5%), Bulgaria (-4.3%) and Belgium (-4.0%) recorded declines during the period.

Source And Strategic Insights

Eurostat’s monthly tourism accommodation statistics form the basis of the dataset, covering hotels, holiday accommodation and other short-stay establishments across the European Union. Together, the figures provide an overview of tourism activity across member states during the first quarter of 2026 and highlight differences in the contribution of international and domestic visitors across individual markets.

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Eurobank Launches First UPI Cross-Border Payment From Greece To India

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 10, 2026

Eurobank has launched its first cross-border payment from Greece to India through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), marking a new step in the bank’s international expansion and its strategy to strengthen financial ties between Europe and India.

The transaction, completed in cooperation with NPCI International, follows the launch of Eurobank’s new payment service. The inaugural payment was made in the presence of India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Eurobank Chief Executive Fokion Karavias and senior executives from NPCI International.

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A Strategic Bet On India’s Digital Payments Ecosystem

According to Eleftherios Vlachogiannis, Eurobank’s head of transaction banking, the service currently supports outgoing payments by Indian citizens living in Greece to recipients in India, representing the first phase of a broader collaboration with NPCI International.

UPI is operated by NPCI International. By integrating the system into its e-banking platform and mobile app, Eurobank enables customers to make real-time transfers.

“The most important aspect is the philosophy behind the initiative,” Vlachogiannis said. “Instead of creating another closed payment system, we are integrating mature and internationally recognised payment ecosystems into the bank’s services so customers enjoy a simple, secure and modern transaction experience.”

He added: “Innovation creates value when it delivers a genuine benefit for the customer.”

Building A Financial Bridge Between Europe And India

The UPI launch follows Eurobank’s opening of a representative office in Mumbai, making it the first Greek and Cypriot bank with a physical presence in India. The bank has also expanded its presence through the India-Greece-Cyprus Business and Investment Council, a technology centre in Pune and partnerships with Indian institutions.

Vlachogiannis said India’s economic growth and closer ties with the European Union support the bank’s long-term strategy. He also pointed to progress in negotiations on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement.

Mumbai Office Serves As A Regional Business Hub

Eurobank’s Mumbai office supports businesses seeking to establish operations between India, Greece, Cyprus and the wider European market. It provides access to banking services, business networks and market support.

For Greek companies expanding into India, the bank offers international payments, foreign exchange management, trade finance and supply chain finance. Indian businesses investing in Greece, Cyprus or elsewhere in the European Union can also access financing and corporate banking services through Eurobank.

Aiming To Strengthen The India-Europe Corridor

Looking ahead, Eurobank said it will continue investing in technology, international payments, trade finance and partnerships with Indian organisations.

“Our ambition is to act not only as a banking services provider but also as a strategic partner for businesses and investors seeking to benefit from the opportunities created by this dynamic market,” Vlachogiannis said.

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