Last week, figures showed arrivals of tourists reached 62,611 in January 2017 compared to 48,607 in January 2016, recording a big increase of 28.8%. 

Cystat, the Statistical Service of Cyprus, complied the figures on the basis of the results of the Passengers Survey, tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom increased by 19.6% in January 2017 compared to January 2016, while an increase of 157.9% was recorded in tourists from Russia.

Other important tourist markets also recorded increases, such as Greece (19.1%), Israel (55.3%) and Germany (3.8%).

In contrast, a decrease of 23.5% was recorded in tourist arrivals from Ukraine.

The United Kingdom and Russia were the main sources of tourism for Cyprus in January 2017, with 27.8% and 21.8% respectively, while arrivals from Greece account for 13.5% and from Israel 8.4% of total arrivals.

A percentage of 53.0% of tourists that travelled to Cyprus in January 2017 were on holiday, while 24.3% were paying a visit to friends and relatives and 22.5% travelled for business purposes.

On the basis of the results of the Passengers Survey, 108,981 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad inJanuary 2017 compared to 86,298 in the corresponding month last year, recording an increase of 26.3%.

January 2017 saw an increase of 38.3% in the trips of residents to Greece (from 29,858 in January 2016 to 41,287 in January 2017) and 20.4% increase from the United Kingdom (from 17,244 to 20,769 this year).

Source: Famagusta Gazette