One third more visitors arrived in Cyprus this May than last year, official statistics showed on Tuesday after 420,076 people arrived.

During the same month last year 315,018 tourists arrived.

From January to May 2023, total arrivals were estimated at 1,156,705 compared to 849,058 in the corresponding period of 2022, an increase of 36.2 per cent.

Arrivals from the UK were the main source of tourism in May, with 36.6 per cent (153,797) of total arrivals, followed by Israel with 8.9 per cent (37,442), Poland with 7.3 per cent (30,835), Germany with 6.2 per cent (25,916) and Sweden with 5.2 per cent (21,837).

Around 82 per cent of visitors in May made their way to the island for tourism purposes, 11.3 per cent to visit friends and relatives and 6.5 per cent for business.

In addition, a total of 126,583 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad in May 2023 compared to 135,661 in May 2022, registering a decrease of 6.7 per cent.

The main countries from which residents of Cyprus returned in May 2023 were Greece with 31.4 per cent (39.738), the UK with 10.1 per cent (12,739), Italy with 5,6 per cent (7,098) and Germany with 4 per cent (5,095).

Their purpose for travelling was mainly holidays, at 64.8 per cent, followed by business with 28.5 per cent and studies, with 3.6 per cent.