The first quarter of 2024 has ended with an increase of 5. 4%, in tourist arrivals, compared to last year, said Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis, speaking to reporters on Saturday on the sidelines of the Fish Festival taking place in Polis Chrysochous of Paphos district.

“You understand that we are going through a year with many peculiarities and many adversities”, Koumis said, noting that there is a big struggle for this year after what is happening in the Eastern Mediterranean region, but also the relative economic crisis in some countries from which Cyprus receives a large number of visitors. All this adds up to a situation that is not so easy, he added.

However, “we are satisfied with the results, and we hope to achieve another good performance by the end of the year”, he said, expressing hope that all tensions in the region will come to an end.

The Deputy Minister of Tourism said that the Israeli market, which is the second largest market for Cyprus, has recorded a 26% decrease so far, but other markets have seen an increase, such as the Polish market, which is recording a big increase, the German and the Swiss markets.