Huge £323m boost for Cyprus as 179k Brits pour into island - spending £85 a day each

Boasting beautiful beaches, fascinating ancient ruins and medieval castles and a delicious blend of Greek and Middle Eastern cusine, it's not surprising that the Mediterranean island of Cyprus has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. In 2024, the island welcomed an impressive over four million tourists - a 5.1% growth compared to the previous year.

The UK was the most important source of tourism for Cyprus, with a share of 34% of total tourist traffic, followed by visitors from countries including Israel, Poland, Germany, Greece, and Sweden. The island's draw appears to have paid off, as overall tourism revenue on the island climbed to a staggering €373.3 million (£323 million) in May 2025, according to the latest results on Wednesday from the passenger survey conducted by the statistical service (Cystat). This marks an over 20% increase compared to the previous year, when it stood at €310.5 million (£268 million). The data for individual spending, especially among Brits, were also impressive.

The average expenditure per person in May 2025 reached just over €779 (£673), reflecting a 5.7% increase compared to the €737 (£637) the previous year.

As in previous months, the UK remained the largest source of tourists, accounting for a staggering 37.4% of total arrivals in May 2025 alone. Brits spent on average €97.77 (£85) per day.

Israel ranked second with a 9.4% share of tourist arrivals, with visitors from the country spending an average of €153 (£132) per day. This was followed by Poland, with 7.7% of arrivals, with its residents spending €90 (£78) per day on average.

Out of the total number of tourists, 32% stated that they stayed in Paphos, 16% in Ayia Napa, 14% in Larnaca, 12% in Limassol, 11% in Paralimni and smaller proportions in other areas. For 81% of tourists, the purpose of their trip in 2024 was holidays, while 12% visited friends and relatives, and 7% for business.

Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis told state broadcaster Rik on Wednesday (July 30) that "the tourism sector is having another very good year," and believes that a new double record of arrivals and revenues will be achieved in 2025.

He added that "the twelve-day war between Israel and Iran did not particularly affect the tourist flow to Cyprus". On June 13, the Foreign Office updated its advice to the island to warn of regional risks. It wrote: "Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region."

Regarding hotel occupancy, the deputy minister said that it is "currently very high", approaching 100% during the summer period.