Cyprus achieved record-breaking tourism results in 2024, according to Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis.
Speaking at the annual general assembly of the Association of Cyprus Travel and Tourism Agents (ACTA), he highlighted that October set a new benchmark, with arrivals surging by 26 per cent compared to 2022.
Koumis praised the sector’s resilience in the face of challenges such as geopolitical instability in the Middle East, economic pressures in Europe, and ongoing issues in the aviation industry.
“Tourism has shown and continues to show exemplary resilience, and no doubt travel agents have contributed greatly to this,” he said.
He further noted that arrivals up to October saw a 4.6 per cent year-on-year increase, while over a two-year horizon, the rise stood at an impressive 26.7 per cent.
Tourism revenues followed a similar route, increasing by 4.9 per cent compared to last year and 31.1 per cent over two years.
“This year is admittedly successful for the tourism sector,” Koumis remarked, expressing optimism for 2025.
He pointed to the government’s commitment to bolstering the sector through an increased budget for the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.
Koumis also addressed the evolving demands of package travel, emphasising the need for innovation and personalisation.
“Certainly, the dynamics of this October, which broke all records by being the best October ever, could not go unnoticed,” he added.
“The success of the travel packages of the future depends primarily on the ability of tour operators to combine technology with human contact, creating experiences that are not only comfortable and flexible but also memorable,” he said.
Keve president Stavros Stavrou described 2024 as an “excellent year for tourism,” with record arrivals and revenues achieved despite setbacks from the Russian market and the conflict in Israel.
“Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and all stakeholders, including the ACTA, Cyprus managed to achieve an excellent year,” he said.
However, Stavrou identified seasonality as a persistent challenge. “It is not possible that a country with 300 days of sunshine cannot attract tourists throughout the year,” he said.
Insufficient winter airline schedules and hotel closures during the off-season were cited as key hurdles, which he argued could be resolved through closer collaboration between airlines and hotel operators to ensure sustainable solutions.
“Connectivity with new markets,” Stavrou said, “remains crucial for Cyprus’ tourism growth.”
He called for greater efforts to establish direct links with the United States, China, and Japan, suggesting joint tourism packages with Greece to attract visitors from these markets.
“The overall image of Cyprus as a tourist destination must be enriched by enhancing quality and offering alternative forms of tourism,” he added.
Deputy Minister Koumis echoed the need for diversification, noting the ministry’s focus on developing special forms of tourism, such as cultural, gastronomic, sports, and educational travel.
“These initiatives”, he said, “align with Cyprus’ unique identity and comparative advantages.”
“Every policy is now intertwined with the green transition and digital transformation,” he explained, emphasising sustainability and community involvement.
ACTA President Harris Papacharalambous underlined the importance of travel agencies in Cyprus’ tourism ecosystem, citing recent research showing that 70 per cent of leisure tourists in 2023 booked their trips through agencies or foreign tour operators.
Looking back on 2023, he noted that while global arrivals had not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, Cyprus ranked sixth in the EU for tourism’s contribution to GDP at 12.9 per cent, trailing Croatia, Portugal, Malta, and Greece.
“Clearly, Cyprus’ performance was generally good and encouraging considering how special our data is,” he said.
Papacharalambous credited smaller markets with helping to bridge the gap left by the decline in Russian tourists, leading to a more diverse visitor base.
Nonetheless, he warned that issues such as high operational costs, staff shortages, connectivity gaps, and competition from the north remain pressing concerns.
