Tourist arrivals fell 3.3% in the first nine months of the year to 1,995,446compared with 2,064,118 in the same period last year. The service said tourist arrivals from Russia recorded a 40.5% annual rise the previous month, as 357,653 people visited the island compared with 335,352 the previous year. Russian visitors rose to around 108,000 from 77,000.

Sweden also chalked a 13.3% increase to 19,324 from 17,060. Arrivals from the UK, the island’s biggest market, fell 1.5% to 132,620 people, the statistical service said.

Travels by Cyprus residents abroad also rose slightly in September – 0.7% year-on-year. The statistical service said 119,546 people travelled abroad last month compared with 118,702 last year.

Source: Cyprus Mail