Cyprus tourist arrivals rise 9 per cent in February as Polish market surges

Tourist arrivals to Cyprus reached 146,516 in February 2026, up 9.5 per cent from 133,760 in the same month last year, according to the state statistical service (Cystat).

For the first two months of the year, arrivals totalled 268,141, compared with 245,860 in January-February 2025, marking an increase of 9.1 per cent.

The United Kingdom was the biggest source of tourism in February, accounting for 19.3 per cent of total arrivals with 28,217 visitors.

It was followed by Poland with 27,003 arrivals and a share of 18.4 per cent, Israel with 18,530 or 12.6 per cent, Greece with 13,604 (9.3 per cent), and Germany with 9,723 (6.6 per cent).

Among the main markets, the sharpest increase was recorded from Hungary, where arrivals more than doubled to 1,350, reflecting a rise of 104.9 per cent compared with February 2025.

Arrivals from France climbed to 2,851, up 58.7 per cent, while those from Romania rose to 3,658, an increase of 50.9 per cent.

Tourist arrivals from Austria reached 2,848, up 45.5 per cent, while arrivals from Poland rose by 33.9 per cent and those from Germany by 20.1 per cent.

Arrivals from Greece also increased strongly, the report added, rising 23.9 per cent year-on-year.

At the same time, some markets moved lower.

Arrivals from the United Kingdom fell by 14.8 per cent from 33,115 to 28,217, while those from Israel edged down by 3.5 per cent to 18,530.

Visitors from the Netherlands dropped by 16.4 per cent to 1,872, and arrivals from Sweden declined by 18.1 per cent to 1,219.

By contrast, arrivals from Lebanon increased slightly by 3.6 per cent to 1,988, the report showed.

Holidays remained the main reason for visiting Cyprus in February, accounting for 61.5 per cent of total travel.

A further 21.6 per cent of tourists said they were visiting friends and relatives, while 16.7 per cent travelled for business.

In February 2025, the corresponding shares stood at 60.3 per cent for holidays, 20.4 per cent for visits to friends and relatives, and 19.1 per cent for business travel.

Meanwhile, the number of Cyprus residents returning from a trip abroad reached 152,198 in February 2026, compared with 124,232 in the corresponding month of 2025, recording an increase of 22.5 per cent.

Most residents were returning from Greece, which accounted for 30.8 per cent of the total with 46,902 returns.

The United Kingdom followed with 12,349 returns (8.1 per cent), while Italy accounted for 6,382 returns (4.2 per cent) and Poland for 6,287 (4.1 per cent).

As for the purpose of travel, holidays were again the main reason for Cyprus residents travelling abroad, making up 78.7 per cent of trips.

Business travel accounted for 19.2 per cent, while 1.5 per cent travelled for studies and 0.6 per cent for other reasons.