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Higher Visitor Spending Helps Offset Decline In Cyprus Tourism Arrivals

Denmark recorded 7,098 arrivals in June, down from 9,058 a year earlier. Danish visitors stayed longer, averaging eight days versus seven, and spent €746.45 per person, up from €718.95 in June 2025. Daily expenditure, however, declined to €93.31 from €102.71.

The Netherlands also recorded fewer arrivals, falling to 3,997 from 6,273, while average stays shortened to 7.4 days from eight. Spending per visitor dropped to €867.21 from €993.70, and daily expenditure declined to €117.19 from €124.21.

Sweden Bucks The Trend

Sweden stood out among the European markets, with arrivals increasing to 26,884 from 23,750. Average stays also rose to 7.8 days from 7.3, while spending per visitor increased to €861.16 from €788.14 and daily expenditure climbed to €110.41 from €107.96.

Long-Haul Markets Show High Value, Limited Volume

Norway recorded 9,239 arrivals, down from 10,148, but remained one of Cyprus’ highest-spending visitor markets. Tourists from Norway stayed an average of 7.7 days and spent €1,103.25 per person, or €143.28 per day, although Cystat did not consider comparable June 2025 expenditure figures sufficiently reliable.

The United States recorded 7,178 arrivals, slightly below 7,310 a year earlier. American visitors stayed an average of 13.3 days and spent €826.91 per person, or €62.17 per day, while comparable June 2025 expenditure data was also classified as having low reliability.

Italy And Greece See Longer Stays And Higher Spending

Italy saw arrivals fall to 4,178 from 6,332, but average stays increased to 6.2 days from 5.7. Spending rose to €612.30 per visitor, while daily expenditure reached €98.76.

Greece recorded 13,910 arrivals, down from 15,960, but visitors stayed significantly longer, averaging 8.1 days compared with 5.8 days in June 2025. Spending per visitor increased to €620.68 from €398.38, while daily expenditure rose to €76.63 from €68.69.

Data Reliability Limits Some Comparisons

Cystat flagged June 2026 data for Belgium and Switzerland as having low reliability, limiting direct year-over-year comparisons. Lebanon’s stay and expenditure figures were also classified as low reliability, while comparable data for Finland was considered insufficiently reliable.

What The Data Suggest For Cyprus Tourism

June figures point to a mixed tourism picture, with arrivals declining across several key European markets while spending increased in selected segments. Sweden, Greece and Italy recorded stronger spending, while Norway remained a high-value market despite lower visitor numbers.

For Cyprus, the data show that longer stays and higher per-visitor spending can partly offset weaker arrivals. Those gains, however, have not fully reversed the broader weakness recorded during the first half of the year.

AI In Practice Brings Business Leaders Together To Learn, Unlearn And Relearn

AI in Practice: Changing the Future of Business takes place on Monday, 19 October 2026, at the Cultural Center of European University Cyprus in Nicosia, under the auspices of the Chief Scientist of Cyprus, Demetris Skourides.

Organised by Panis.News with co-organisers GrantXpert Consulting and Future Skills Hub at European University Cyprus, the event will bring together founders, SME owners and senior executives to examine practical uses of artificial intelligence.

The evening runs from 18:00 to 22:30. Tickets will be available until 12:00 noon on Monday, 19 October, Cyprus time.

For business leaders, the challenge is deciding where AI can deliver results. The programme will explore how to identify useful applications, prepare teams and connect technology investment with business needs. Demonstrations, case studies and direct questions to speakers will help attendees assess their next steps.

Panis Pieri, Founder of Panis.News, said:

“Business leaders need space to ask questions, challenge assumptions and learn from people applying AI. We created AI in Practice to make that conversation accessible and useful. We want attendees to leave with a clearer idea of what they can do next in their own businesses.”

Dr Celia Hadjichristodoulou, Founder and Managing Director of GrantXpert Consulting and Future Skills Hub, said:

“Working out where AI belongs in your business takes real thought about your customers, your processes and your people.”

AIA.Labs supports the event as the Gold Partner. Its founder, Sotiris Makrygiannis, said:

“In the 70s we learnt how to punch a card to go to work or program a timesharing computing machine, in the 80s the personal PC and office tools, in the 90s the modem and basic internet, in the 2000s mobile internet plus web shopping, and by 2010 the mobile apps. Now it’s time to learn how to practically use AI and that alone is the most disruptive thing an individual can do today. We are happy to sponsor the event because theory needs a practical application.”

The Agenda

– 18:00–18:30: Registration and networking.

– 18:30–18:50: Welcome remarks from Panis Pieri, Dr Celia Hadjichristodoulou and EUC Rector Professor Loizos Symeou.

– 18:50–19:00: Interview with Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides.

– 19:00–19:20: The AI Revolution. Why should you care? by Monica Odysseos, Head of AI and Data Lab of Grant Thornton.

– 19:20–19:40: From Business Pain Points to AI Transformation: A CEO’s Roadmap to Real Results by George Malekkos, CEO of POWERSOFT Computer Solutions & AI-Driven Business Transformation Architect & President of CITEA.

– 19:40–20:20: AI and the Future of Business: Will Your Business Be Here in 2030? by Paris Thomas, Executive Advisor on AI & Strategy, Founder at Rapid Visual / Strapivo

– 20:20–21:00: Questions and answers with the speakers.

– 21:00–22:30: Networking over drinks and bites.

The Challenge

The evening’s programme approaches the challenge from three directions.

Monica Odysseos will begin with a question that deserves a clear answer: why should you care?

Her session will explore how AI is changing the way people work, make decisions and create. Her background spans software development, accounting and applied AI, bringing both technical and business perspectives to the discussion.

George Malekkos will then examine how business problems can become starting points for AI adoption.

Where does your company lose time? Which processes cause delays? Where could you improve the customer experience?

His presentation will look at selecting useful applications, preparing teams and processes, and measuring results. For a business owner deciding where to begin, that connection between a specific problem and a measurable outcome matters.

Paris Thomas will take the discussion further with his keynote, “AI and the Future of Business: Will Your Business Be Here in 2030?”

It is a challenging question. It asks leaders to look beyond today’s workload and consider how their products, services and business models might need to change.

His hour-long session will include live AI demonstrations and enterprise case studies. It will explore how leaders can improve their current business while developing new opportunities and preparing for longer-term change.

The Event

The event will be in English.

The full programme and to book your tickets, visit: https://luma.com/ai-in-practice-cyprus

The organisers thank:

  • Silver Partners Growth Hacking Cyprus, RSEVEN, Mel’s Digital and Makkas Winery.
  • Supporters: Cyprus Computer Society, XValley Tech, Business Society Accelerator, Startup School Cyprus and Carierista.
  • Community Partners: EIT Community Hub Cyprus, CYENS, Women in Tech, Startup Greece, ECECT, CITEA, IET Cyprus and Cyprus_IT

Follow updates about the event on social media at #PanisMeetups

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