2024 has been bumper year for tourism says minister
Cyprus has marked the best nine months ‘of all time’ in tourism this year, according to Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis.
Making statements at the opening of the Cyprus Airways Flying Academy at Larnaca airport, he said he was optimistic for a successful 2025.
“We have had the best nine months of all time…arrivals and revenues are recording a remarkable increase. Under the circumstances, meaning everything we have had and are facing this year, we are very, very pleased,” he said.
“We started on a negative note, affected by what was happening in the Eastern Mediterranean region, we were affected by the crisis in the aviation sector and by the economic situation in Central and Western Europe, so yes we are very pleased with the performance in the tourism sector so far.”
Asked where the increase could be attributed to, Koumis said it was the hard work of all tourism stakeholders: the deputy tourism ministry, transport ministry, government, airport management company and the tourism industry itself.
Koumis added he expected a small increase in winter tourism compared to the same period last year.
“If the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean was better, we’d have a much greater increase.”
He said many tourism units would remain open at least until mid-November. “I personally do not remember so many units remaining open during this period.”
Regarding the November flight schedule, Koumis praised Cyprus’ flight programme.
“There are 55 airlines from 39 different countries operating to and from Cyprus, the flight schedule is extremely good, it has been affected somewhat by the recent events in neighbouring Israel but in general it is in a very good condition.”
Asked whether Israel’s attack on Iran will affect tourism in Cyprus and the aviation sector in general, Koumis said that “I am always optimistic.”
“We had similar cases a few weeks ago and a few months ago and at the beginning of the year.” Nonetheless, Cyprus’ tourism sector has “only positive results” in 2024.