Cyprus enters 2025 with optimism for its tourism sector, which is expected to match or surpass that of 2024, itself a record-breaking year, deputy minister Costas Koumis said on Tuesday.
Last year, arrivals surpassed four million tourist for the first time, generating over €3 billion in revenue.
Koumis said tourist arrivals so far this year are already up by six per cent compared to the same period last year. He credited this growth to improved air connectivity.
A key focus for the government, he added, is extending the tourism season beyond the traditional summer peak.
Policies and incentives have been introduced to attract niche markets, such as sports tourism. The success of these initiatives is evident, with two recent sporting events bringing over 5,000 international visitors to Cyprus in just two weeks.
Koumis singled out Paphos as a consistently strong destination, noting that the city has enjoyed excellent tourism figures in recent years.
“Paphos has significantly upgraded its tourism offering, with many hotels investing in renovations and new facilities. This has not gone unnoticed by the international travel market,” he said.
The city’s airport is also playing a role in this upward trend. In 2025, Paphos airport will be linked to 58 airports across 21 countries.
“The numbers confirm Paphos’ strong momentum,” Koumis added.
Beyond the statistics, Koumis stressed the importance of offering visitors a high-quality, well-rounded experience.
“Tourism must be seen as a strategic sector with continuous improvement and diversification at its core,” he said.
