CYPRUS: Tourist arrivals hit record 3.23 million for first nine months

Tourist arrivals in Cyprus recorded a record high in September and for the first nine months of the year, official figures released on Wednesday show.

Arrivals of tourists reached 520,138 in September 2018 from 483,716 in September 2017, recording an increase of 7.5%.

“September 2018 had the highest volume of tourist arrivals ever recorded in Cyprus during the specific month,” Cystat said.

For the nine-month period January – September arrivals of tourists increased 7.9% to 3,239,760 against 3,001,603 in the same period of 2017, outnumbering the total arrivals ever recorded in Cyprus during the first nine months of the year.

Arrivals from biggest market the UK were up by 5.3% in September, whereas an increase of 1.7% was recorded in tourist arrivals from third largest market Israel.

Tourist arrivals from Germany and Greece also increased by 3% and 4% respectively, while visitors from second largest market Russia decreased 4.1% and from Sweden by 4.9%.

The UK accounted for 33.5% of tourist arrivals in September while Russia contributed 22.4% of total arrivals, Israel for 6.2% and Germany for 4.3%.