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Cyprus Secures Robust Tourism Growth Driven by Key International Markets

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

January 19, 2026

Strong December Performance Sets the Stage

Cyprus has recorded a significant surge in tourist arrivals in December 2025, as evidenced by the latest data from the Cyprus Statistical Service. The island welcomed 156,959 visitors in December 2025, marking an 18.0% increase compared to the same period last year. This performance underscores a robust finish to the year and highlights the resilience of the tourism sector.

Key Markets Fueling Growth

Analysis of the December data reveals that visitors from Israel and the United Kingdom were the primary drivers of growth. Israel emerged as the largest source market, accounting for 19.1% of arrivals with 30,020 visitors. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom contributed 19.0% with 29,826 arrivals, despite a modest decline of 5.3% compared to December 2024.

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Other notable market contributions include Poland, which recorded a 42.5% annual increase to reach 17,779 arrivals (11.3% share), and Germany, where arrivals rose by 53.5% to 11,569. Additionally, Greece attracted 11,413 visitors, representing 7.3% of the total despite a 4.6% drop year on year. France and Romania also posted notable gains, with increases of 55.6% and 61.6%, respectively. Hungary and Austria led the growth among smaller markets, with increases of 81.8% and 37.8%, respectively, while declines were observed among visitors from Norway and Denmark.

Diverse Visitor Profiles and Broader Travel Trends

Beyond the raw numbers, the data reveals evolving travel behaviors. In December 2025, 56.4% of tourists visited Cyprus for holidays, a rise from 49.6% a year earlier. Visits to friends and relatives decreased to 32.0% from 37.5%, and business travel accounted for 11.3% of visits, down from 12.7%. The analysis also noted a substantial 29.6% year-over-year increase in arrivals from Israel, reinforcing its status as a critical market during the winter tourism season.

Outbound Travel on the Rise

Cypriot residents also increased their international travel, with 193,007 returning from abroad in December 2025 compared to 168,022 in the previous year – a 14.9% rise. The majority of returning travelers headed to Greece, which accounted for 28.4% of all returns. The United Kingdom and Poland were the next most popular destinations. Notably, 69.3% of these trips were taken for holidays, while studies and business ventures made up 15.0% and 14.9%, respectively.

Conclusion

The comprehensive data, derived from rigorous passenger surveys at Larnaca and Paphos airports and supplemented by port data, paints a robust picture of Cyprus’s tourism sector. With diverse source markets and evolving visitor profiles, Cyprus is well-positioned to leverage its popularity and further strengthen its position as a leading winter destination in the Mediterranean.

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Bank of Cyprus Upgrade Signals Fresh Optimism For Greek And Cypriot Banks

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 26, 2026

Regional Banks Enter A More Favorable Cycle

Bank of Cyprus and Eurobank are well positioned to benefit from a renewed re-rating of Greek and Cypriot bank stocks, according to Cyprus-based investment firm Roemer Capital, which upgraded Bank of Cyprus to a buy rating and reaffirmed its positive view on Eurobank.

The firm cited easing geopolitical tensions, resilient economic growth in Greece and Cyprus, lower funding costs and Greece’s expected transition to developed-market status as the main factors supporting the sector.

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Roemer Capital also lowered its cost of equity assumptions, updated its forecasts following first-quarter 2026 results and extended its valuation horizon to the end of 2027, raising target prices across its banking coverage.

Bank Of Cyprus Gets The Largest Upgrade

Bank of Cyprus received the biggest revision, with Roemer Capital upgrading the stock from hold to buy and setting a target price of €11.10, implying potential total upside of 27%.

The firm highlighted the bank’s strong capital generation, profitability and projected 100% dividend payout, describing it as the strongest capital-return story among the banks under coverage. Roemer Capital maintained its buy rating on Eurobank, assigning a target price of €4.90 and forecasting potential upside of 28%. The report said the bank is well placed to benefit from loan growth, improving operating performance and merger-and-acquisition synergies.

National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank also retained buy ratings, with expected returns ranging from 25% to 36%. Optima Bank was upgraded to buy, while Alpha Bank remained at hold on valuation grounds.

Why Growth Still Sets The Region Apart

According to Roemer Capital, Greek and Cypriot banks continue to benefit from stronger economic fundamentals than many western European peers. The report pointed to faster economic growth, healthier balance sheets, low levels of non-performing exposures, capital ratios approaching 20% and strong customer deposit bases.

Analysts expect performing loans across the sector to grow at a compound annual rate of 6% to 8% through 2028, supported by private investment, digitalisation, green manufacturing, supply-chain expansion and a gradual recovery in household lending.

The report also said the conclusion of lending under the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility is unlikely to materially affect credit growth, as banks have already shifted back towards traditional commercial lending. Roemer Capital expects Euribor to remain between 2.2% and 2.5%, a level it believes should support both lending activity and net interest margins.

Geopolitics, Valuation And Market Structure Support The Case

The report said improving geopolitical conditions have strengthened the investment outlook, noting that Brent crude prices have largely returned to pre-war levels while Greek government bond yields have stabilised at around 3.5%. Although geopolitical risks remain, Roemer Capital believes the likelihood of a major inflationary shock or significant pressure on bank profitability has eased.

Another important catalyst identified by the firm is Greece’s expected promotion to developed-market status by FTSE Russell, STOXX and MSCI over the coming months.

According to the report, the reclassification should improve liquidity and attract a broader base of international investors. Roemer Capital also said Euronext’s acquisition of the Athens Exchange is expected to strengthen market infrastructure and increase international visibility, particularly for Bank of Cyprus and Optima Bank.

The firm noted that Bank of Cyprus has already benefited from its Athens listing, with average daily trading value increasing from less than €400,000 before its September 2024 move to nearly €6 million afterwards.

Economic Momentum Remains A Core Tailwind

Roemer Capital said both Greece and Cyprus have moved beyond post-crisis recovery and are now supported by private-sector-led growth. For Cyprus, the report highlighted recent tax reform and efforts to simplify the legal and regulatory framework, while also noting that limited foreign banking competition continues to support domestic lenders.

Overall, Roemer Capital expects Greek and Cypriot banks to remain well-positioned for profitable loan growth over the coming years.