November tourism arrivals up on last year

Tourist arrivals in November 2022 were 0.6 per cent higher than those recorded in the same month the previous year, data published on Monday by the statistical service showed.

Specifically, 149,857 tourists arrived in Cyprus in November 2022, compared to 148,973 in November 2021.

Tourist arrivals between January and November of this year, which totalled 3,091,039, came relatively close to 2019 figures, when 3,866,447 tourist arrivals were recorded.

In 2021 the figure for the corresponding period was 1,840,003, and in 2020 it was 621, 927.

A quarter of total arrivals in November 2022 were from the United Kingdom, with 38,265 recorded. This was followed by Israel with 11.6 per cent (17,380), Greece with 10.1 per cent (15,190), Germany with 10.1 per cent (15,065) and Poland with 9.2 per cent (13,759).

Most tourists arriving in 2022 (70 per cent) were visiting for holidays, 15 per cent to visit friends and relatives, and 14 per cent for business.

In 2021 the figures were 75.8 per cent for holidays, 13.3 per cent for visiting friends and relatives and 10.9 per cent for business.

The data was obtained from passenger surveys carried out at arrivals halls in Larnaca and Paphos airports, and also data collected from administrative sources, such as monthly port arrivals.

The data covers all persons who pass through passport control at the ports and airports of Cyprus.