Spending for trips abroad in 2022 amounted to €1.39 billion, with trips for leisure and recreation recovering compared with 2021, a year still marked by COVID-19 restrictions.

According to a Cystat’s Survey for trips of Cypriot residents, trips abroad in 2022 amounted to 1,234,615 compared to just 471,119 in 2021, recording an increase of 162.1%.

A share of 86.4% of these trips were conducted for personal purposes (leisure, recreation and holidays, visiting relatives and friends, health reasons, pilgrimage), while 13.6% for professional purposes.

The number of residents participating in outbound trips for personal purposes in 2022 amounted to 158,294, showing an increase of 110.5% compared to 75,204 residents who travelled abroad in 2021, Cystat said.

Furthermore, the number of domestic trips decreased by 9.7%, from 1,870,923 trips recorded in 2021 to 1,689,154 in 2022.

A percentage of 98,5% of domestic trips were made for personal purposes and 1,5% for professional purposes.

According to Cystat, expenditure for outbound trips amounted to €1,394.5 million in 2022, recording an increase of 185.2% compared to 2021.

Expenditure on transport comprised the largest share of total expenditure, with a percentage of 34.3%, year on year.

Spending for domestic trips amounted to €266.5 million in 2022, recording an increase of 2% compared to 2021.

Expenditure on food and drinks in cafes and restaurants comprised the largest share of total expenditure for domestic trips with 39.1%, while accommodation spending accounted for 32.9%, Cystat added.