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Cyprus Residents Set New Record For Overseas Travel

by News Editor

August 24, 2026

Cyprus residents are on track to make around 2.1 million trips abroad in 2026, up from 1.96 million last year, according to the Association of Cyprus Travel & Tourism Agents (ACTTA).

ACTTA president Charis Papacharalambous said outbound travel is growing by about 7%, meaning the number of trips could exceed two million for the first time.

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He said the increase reflects a broader shift in which international travel has become a regular part of life for Cyprus residents rather than an occasional luxury. Better air connectivity has also expanded the number of destinations and flight options available from the island.

Greece Remains The Top Choice

Around 85% of trips by Cyprus residents are to European destinations, including the UK, while almost 70% are to EU member states.

Greece remains by far the most popular destination, accounting for about 33% of all outbound trips. Italy, Poland, France and Germany are also among the leading choices, while Spain and Romania have recorded notable increases in demand.

Long-haul travel is gaining ground as well. Japan has become increasingly popular over the past two to three years, particularly among older travellers and families with older children. Thailand is also regaining interest after a period of weaker demand.

Inbound Tourism Faces A Mixed Picture

While outbound travel is growing strongly, Cyprus’ inbound tourism performance has been more uneven. July arrivals were close to last year’s level, but several key European markets remained below their 2025 figures.

British arrivals were around 11% lower for the year so far, while arrivals from EU countries were down by approximately 9.5%.

A sharp increase in visitors from Israel has partly offset these declines. Around 80,000 to 90,000 more Israeli visitors arrived over the past two months than during the same period last year, with arrivals from the market rising by about 165% in June.

However, Israeli tourists generally stay for shorter periods than European visitors, meaning the increase in arrivals does not translate into the same growth in overnight stays.

Winter Tourism Remains A Challenge

Papacharalambous identified winter tourism as one of Cyprus’ biggest long-term challenges. While efforts are already underway to develop the market, he said they remain fragmented and lack a consistent long-term strategy.

A stronger winter tourism sector would require clear planning and conditions that give businesses and investors confidence to commit to Cyprus for the long term.

Looking ahead to 2027, Papacharalambous said reliable forecasts remain difficult because of the continuing geopolitical uncertainty in the region. The wider regional situation remains uncertain.

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Cyprus’ Strong Youth Employment Rate Still Does Not Guarantee Early Independence

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 16, 2026

Young people in Cyprus have a relatively high employment rate, but they leave the parental home later than the EU average, according to Eurostat data.

Cypriots left home at an average age of 27 in 2025, compared with 26.3 years across the EU. At the same time, 72.3% of people aged 20 to 29 in Cyprus were employed, well above the EU average of 65.5%.

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Strong Employment Does Not Mean Early Independence

Only nine countries recorded higher youth employment rates than Cyprus. Iceland led at 85.3%, followed by the Netherlands at 84%, Malta at 82.1%, Switzerland at 78.3% and Germany at 77%.

Norway recorded 76.5%, Ireland 76.1%, Denmark 74.8% and Austria 74.6%. Eurostat said countries where young people leave home earlier generally tend to have higher youth employment rates.

Southern Europe Sees Later Moves

Finland had the lowest average age for leaving the parental home at 21.4 years, followed by Denmark at 21.8 and Estonia and Lithuania at 22.7. Croatia recorded the highest average at 31.5 years, followed by Greece and Slovakia at 30.9. Spain and Italy both stood at 30.2 years.

Across the EU, the average has remained close to 26 since 2002, rising only slightly from 26.2 years in 2024 to 26.3 years in 2025.

Cyprus Labour Market Is Cooling

The figures come as Cyprus’ labor market shows some signs of easing, although demand for workers remains relatively strong by European standards.

Separate Eurostat data showed Cyprus had the EU’s largest annual decline in its job vacancy rate in the second quarter of 2026. The rate fell to 2.6% from 3.3% a year earlier, but remained above the EU average of 2.0% and the euro area average of 2.1%.

Cost Of Living Remains A Factor

Housing and other living costs can also affect how quickly young workers establish independent households. Eurostat reported that Cyprus’ household consumption price level was 89.2% of the EU average in 2025.

A relatively lower overall price level does not eliminate affordability pressures for people on modest incomes. For younger workers, the issue can be whether wages are sufficient to cover rent, utilities, food and other basic expenses.

Cyprus therefore combines relatively high youth employment with a later transition to independent living, suggesting that access to work and the ability to afford a separate household do not always move together.