Cyprus tourism under pressure: Loss of Israeli tourists threatens industry revenue

Tourism revenues in Cyprus at the beginning of 2026 showed steady growth, but geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are already having a noticeable impact on the industry. According to the Statistical Service, revenues in February amounted to 85.3 million euros, an increase of 7% compared to last year, and for January–February, growth reached 7.4%. The increase in the number of tourists also confirmed the positive dynamics: in January and February, a growth in arrivals of 8.5% and 9.5% respectively was recorded. However, average tourist spending decreased by 2.3% — to 581.85 euros per person.

The structure of the tourist flow remains a key factor. In February, tourists from Israel were the leaders in spending, spending an average of 157.15 euros per day — significantly more than guests from the UK and Poland. At the same time, Israel ranked third in terms of the number of arrivals. The situation changed dramatically in March after the start of the military conflict: the total number of tourists decreased by 30.7%, and the flow from Israel practically disappeared, dropping by 94.6%. Given the high purchasing power of this category of tourists, experts expect a negative impact on industry revenues in the coming months.