Greek Cypriots Crossing into the TRNC Less Frequently

The number of Greek Cypriots crossing into the TRNC dropped by 15% in the last three months of 2024, according to the latest economic bulletin from the TRNC Central Bank. The report, which provides data on passenger arrivals and border crossings at land checkpoints, highlights a significant decline in movement between the two sides.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, Greek Cypriots made 638,351 border crossings—down from 751,324 during the same period in 2023. Over the entire year, crossings fell by 8%, totaling 2,836,884 in 2024 compared to 3,063,408 the previous year.

The decline was relatively modest in the first nine months of the year, at just 4.5%. However, the sharp drop in the last quarter nearly doubled the annual rate of decrease.

In total, 4,831,724 crossings into the TRNC were recorded in 2024 through Cyprus’s nine border checkpoints—almost 300,000 fewer than in 2023, when the figure stood at 5,211,977.

Turkish Cypriots Crossing More Frequently

Meanwhile, border crossings in the opposite direction have been on the rise. In 2024, Turkish Cypriots crossed into the south 2,966,559 times, surpassing the number of crossings by Greek Cypriots in the other direction. This also marks a significant increase compared to the previous year.

Notably, Turkish Cypriots made 804,361 crossings in the final three months of the year—the highest figure for any three-month period since the checkpoints first opened in 2003. This represents a 24.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Tourism Trends in Northern Cyprus

The report also includes data on tourism and accommodation in Northern Cyprus. The number of Turkish tourists staying overnight in the TRNC increased by nearly 19% in 2024, rising from 867,994 to 1,030,519. The total number of nights spent by Turkish tourists also grew by 15%, from 2,536,802 to 2,927,908.

In contrast, the number of tourists from other countries declined by 13.5%, dropping from 309,115 to 267,249. Similarly, the total number of nights spent by foreign visitors fell by 15.6%, from 1,442,569 to 1,217,840. Reports suggest that European tourist arrivals to Northern Cyprus have significantly decreased.

At the same time, the total number of passengers arriving in Northern Cyprus by air or sea increased by 19.1% compared to 2023, reaching 2,208,855. This figure includes Turkish Cypriots, Turkish citizens, and 343,702 foreign visitors who arrived by air or sea last year.

Among non-Turkish visitors, Russian nationals ranked second, with 47,906 arrivals in 2024. They were followed by 37,688 German citizens, 36,232 Iranians, and 21,399 British visitors.

According to Cyprus Mail, more than 1.3 million British citizens traveled to the Republic of Cyprus by air or sea during the same period.