Tourist arrivals in May at 100,852

A total of 100,852 tourists visited Cyprus in May marking an increase of 163% compared with the previous month of 2021, according to data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat).

Although May marked the fourth consecutive month of increase in arrivals, however the number of tourists visiting Cyprus is significantly below normal levels, as the situation concerning international travel, particularly in Cyprus’ two main tourist markets, the UK and Russia, has not yet normalised due to Covid and particularly due to Indian covid variant that delay international traveling for UK nationals.

For the period of January – May total tourist arrivals amounted to 156,825, down by 36.4% compared with the same period of last year.

Compared with 2019 before the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, tourist arrivals in May 2021 marked a reduction of 76.8% while arrivals for the first five months of 2021 are down by 86% compared with the respective period of 2019, Cystat said.

According to Cystat’s data despite the fact that the Russian authorities have not yet allowed charted flights, Russian tourists in May constituted Cyprus’ main tourist source with 57,320 or 57% of total monthly arrivals, while arrivals from Ukraine reached 7,821 or 8%, Israel with 7% or 6,948 tourists and Greece with 6% and 6,146 tourists.

Furthermore 80.7% of arrivals in May stated that the purpose of trip were holidays, 9.8% stated their arrival was to visit to friends and relatives and for 9.4% business.