Cyprus’ tourism sector remained under pressure in April 2026, as lower visitor arrivals and weaker spending weighed on revenue, according to figures released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat).
Revenue Slides As Tourist Demand Softens
Tourism receipts fell 35.1% year on year to €197.5 million in April, down from €304.2 million in the same month of 2025. For the January-to-April period, total tourism revenue reached an estimated €443 million, compared with €582.5 million a year earlier, representing a decline of 23.9%.
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The figures are based on Cystat’s passenger survey, which measures visitor spending upon departure from Larnaca and Paphos airports.
Fewer Arrivals, Lower Daily Spending
The decline extended beyond overall revenue. Average spending per tourist fell by 10.3% to €651.77 in April 2026, from €726.42 a year earlier. Daily expenditure also decreased, dropping to €80.47 from €94.34.
Visitors stayed slightly longer on average, with the length of stay increasing to 8.1 days from 7.7 days in April 2025. That, however, was not enough to offset lower arrivals and weaker daily spending.
Total tourist arrivals fell to 303,031 in April 2026, compared with 418,730 in the same month last year.
United Kingdom Remains The Largest Market
The United Kingdom remained Cyprus’ largest source market, accounting for 39.2% of total arrivals despite visitor numbers declining to 118,742 from 151,883 in April 2025.
British tourists spent an average of €751.92 per person and €86.43 per day, down from €777.17 and €89.33 respectively. Their average length of stay remained unchanged at 8.7 days.
Poland ranked second, accounting for 8.4% of total arrivals. Visitor numbers fell to 25,371 from 29,009, while average spending declined to €466.78 per person and €81.89 per day, compared with €529.52 and €89.75 a year earlier. The average stay edged down to 5.7 days from 5.9 days.
Germany placed third with an 8% share of arrivals. Tourist numbers declined to 24,178 from 29,613, while average spending eased to €765.30 per person and €85.99 per day, compared with €918.74 and €103.23 in April 2025. The average stay remained unchanged at 8.9 days.
Sharp Declines From Several Key Markets
Israel recorded one of the steepest declines, with arrivals falling to 15,997 from 63,474 in April 2025. Average spending also decreased to €472.15 per person and €102.64 per day, compared with €616.36 and €140.08 a year earlier, while the average stay increased slightly to 4.6 days from 4.4 days.
Arrivals from Greece declined to 14,255 from 16,354. Greek visitors spent an average of €365.16 per person and €41.50 per day, down from €434.38 and €73.62, while their average stay increased to 8.8 days from 5.9 days.
Sweden also recorded lower visitor numbers, with arrivals falling to 10,612 from 13,967. Average spending dropped to €575.36 per person from €825.61, while daily expenditure edged down to €76.71 from €78.63. The average stay shortened to 7.5 days from 10.5 days.
The Netherlands welcomed 7,162 visitors, compared with 8,810 a year earlier, while France recorded 5,855 arrivals, down from 8,113. Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Italy, the United States and Lebanon also registered year-on-year declines in visitor numbers.
Belgium was one of the few markets to record growth, with arrivals increasing to 4,194 from 3,188, although average spending per visitor declined to €602.48 and daily spending to €98.77.
Italian tourists were among the few visitors to increase their spending despite lower arrivals. Average expenditure rose to €643.98 per person from €504.95, while daily spending increased to €111.03 from €91.81. Their average stay also edged up to 5.8 days from 5.5 days.
A Sector Still Searching For Momentum
The latest figures show that lower arrivals and weaker visitor spending continued to weigh on Cyprus’ tourism revenue in April. Although visitors stayed slightly longer on average, the increase was insufficient to offset declines in both arrivals and daily expenditure.
