Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis this week announced a record-setting year for Cyprus’ tourism sector, with over 4 million visitors and revenues exceeding €3 billion.

This growth has been fueled by a 6 per cent increase in air travel routes, including a significant 9 per cent rise in flights to and from Germany, Europe’s largest economy.

Additionally, the complete resumption of services by an airline that hadn’t fully returned after the pandemic is now offering regular flights again, further enhancing the island’s global connectivity and boosting optimism for the tourist season.

Speaking during an interview with television channel Sigma, Koumis discussed initiatives to extend the tourism season beyond the traditional summer peak, aiming to capitalise on the quieter first and last months of the year.

Addressing the impact of the ongoing trade war and Trump’s tariffs, he acknowledged potential concerns about job losses and price hikes in export-dependent countries.

However, he said that “the impact on Cyprus would likely be minimal“, with only slight adjustments expected in the duration of stays and tourist spending, given that most visitors are from Europe where travel is viewed as essential.

Koumis also highlighted the issue of labour shortages within the tourism industry, exacerbated by its seasonal nature.

With tourist numbers climbing from 2.4 million to 4 million over the past decade, there has been a pressing need for more workers.

He also said that the ministry has streamlined job application processes to alleviate this shortage and help reduce unemployment further.

Finally, Koumis said that “the expansion of the tourism sector has not only created more jobs but has also significantly reduced unemployment.”