FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Tourist arrivals in Cyprus reached 133,760 in February 2025, reflecting a 7% increase compared to February 2024, when arrivals totaled 125,034.
For the first two months of the year, the number of tourists visiting Cyprus rose significantly, reaching 245,860, a 15.4% increase compared to 212,995 during the same period in 2024.
The United Kingdom remained the largest source of tourists in February 2025, accounting for 24.8% of arrivals (33,115 visitors). Poland followed with 15.1% (20,165), while Israel and Greece contributed 14.3% (19,194) and 8.2% (10,978), respectively.
Other countries like Germany and the Netherlands also recorded notable increases in arrivals, with Germany up by 10% and the Netherlands showing a sharp rise of 45.7% compared to February 2024.
The majority of tourists in February 2025 (60.3%) traveled to Cyprus for holidays, while 20.4% visited friends and relatives, and 19.1% arrived for business purposes.
Compared to February 2024, holiday travel declined slightly, while business travel saw a noticeable increase from 14.2% to 19.1%.
In addition to the rise in tourist numbers, February 2025 also recorded an increase in the return of Cypriot residents from trips abroad.
A total of 124,232 residents returned, marking an 8.9% increase compared to February 2024, when 114,110 residents came back.
Greece was the most popular destination, with 34.4% of residents returning from there (42,733), followed by the United Kingdom (9.5% or 11,825), Italy (5.1% or 6,289), the United Arab Emirates (4.0% or 5,028), and Germany (3.4% or 4,237).
The primary reason for Cypriot residents traveling abroad was holidays, accounting for 71.9% of trips, followed by business at 24.3%, studies at 2.8%, and other reasons at 1%.