Decline in Cyprus tourism

According to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, winter 2012-2013 tourism trends indicate that, out of the 22 member states in which data was made available, 15 EU member states recorded positive growth rates in comparison to the preceding 12 month period.

According the Eurostat’s analysis, the highest increases in nights spent by tourists in hotels and accommodation establishments were recorded in Slovakia (+9.6 per cent) and Malta (+nine per cent).

Eurostat further reported that over the past 12 month period, total EU-28 figures have dropped by 0.4 per cent as a result of a decline reported in five Mediterranean countries, namely Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Slovenia and Greece.

Eurostat also conducted an analysis of nights spent by residents and non-residents. During the winter season 2012-2013, the most popular non-resident destinations were Spain, Italy and Austria and with the exception of Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Finland and Slovenia, the number of nights spent by tourists choosing to travel outside their country of origin increased in EU member states in comparison to the preceding 12 month period.

Furthermore, at EU-28 level, nights spent by people travelling in their own country decreased by -2.1 per cent, while the number of nights spent by non-residents increased by 1.9 per cent during the same period