Encouraging signs on tourist arrivals in Cyprus that increased for January and February 2003 seem to disappear, as a long war in Iraq will not only affect tourist industry, but also the island's economy.

According to CYSTAT, there was an increase of 8.4% in tourist arrivals for February 2003, while for the first two months of 2003 tourist arrivals increased by 9.1% compared to the corresponding period of 2002.

Specifically, tourist arrivals for February reached 77,972 against 71,950 in the corresponding month of 2002, while arrivals for the period between January and February 2003 amounted to 137,502 against 126,017 in 2002.

Tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom increased by 12.9% in February and 13.5% in January-February, arrivals from Russia increased by 21% in
February but remained unchanged for January-February, Greek tourists increased by 35.9% in February and 38.5% in January-February and tourist arrivals from Ireland increased by 247.6% in February (716 tourists in 2003 against 206 in 2001) and by 251% in January-February (1362 tourists in 2003 against 388 tourists in 2001).

On the other hand, tourist arrivals from Germany fell by 9.4% in February 2003 compared to the corresponding month of 2002 and by 8.4% in January-February 2003 against 2002.