Tourist arrivals in the period January – November 2023 amounted to 3,722,022 compared to 3,091,039 in the corresponding period of 2022, marking an increase of 20.4%, and approaching the annual record of 2019, which had reached 3,976,777.

According to data published by the Statistical Service on Monday, the arrivals of tourists reached 159,605 in November 2023 compared to 149,857 in November 2022, recording an increase of 6.5%.

Arrivals from the United Kingdom were the main source of tourism for November 2023, with a share of 26.8% (42,724) of total arrivals, followed by Poland with 11.8% (18,874), Germany with 10% (15,984) and Greece with 9.7% (15,475).

For a percentage of 67.2% of tourists, the purpose of their trip in November 2023 was holidays, for 19.7% visit to friends and relatives and for 12.8% business. Respectively, in November 2022, 70.8% of tourists visited Cyprus for holidays, 15% visited friends and relatives and 14% visited Cyprus for business reasons.

Moreover, a total number of 117,487 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad in November 2023 compared to 102,417 in the corresponding month last year, recording an increase of 14.7%. The main countries from which residents of Cyprus returned in November 2023 were Greece with a share of 33.9% (39,868), the United Kingdom with 13.5% (15,834) and Italy with 5% (5,914).

The purpose of travel for the residents of Cyprus in November 2023 was mainly holidays, with a percentage of 68.1%, whilst business reasons held a percentage of 27.7%, studies 2.3% and other reasons 1.8%.