Cyprus focuses on winter visitors to extend the tourism season

Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Tourism, Costas Koumis, announced that the island is aiming to expand its tourism season beyond the summer months, following a record-breaking performance in 2025. Speaking at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, Koumis highlighted that tourist arrivals have reached their highest levels yet, especially from the UK market, and that major British tour operators plan to increase their winter holiday programmes for 2026.

He noted that while Cyprus may have reached its summer tourism peak, the focus now is on strengthening winter tourism to make the island a year-round destination. Several hotels in Ayia Napa, Protaras, and Famagusta are already planning to extend their operations into November, with the support of the Cyprus Hoteliers Association and local communities.

Tourism remains one of Cyprus’ strongest industries, contributing 14% to the GDP in 2025. With 3.6 million visitors recorded between January and September and nearly €1.9 billion in revenue in just seven months, the sector continues to grow. The government is also promoting alternative tourism such as sports, wellness, gastronomy, and conferences to build a more sustainable and diversified model for the future.