Cyprus intensifies tourism outreach in UK and Germany amid regional crisis

Cyprus has intensified its international tourism outreach as Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis held a series of high-level contacts in key tourism markets abroad, including a working visit to the United Kingdom that concluded on Monday.

The visit, which began on April 6, involved meetings with representatives of the tourism industry aimed at strengthening Cyprus’ presence in one of its most important markets.

Koumis has also recently engaged with journalists from across Europe who were hosted in Cyprus as part of efforts to promote the country’s tourism sector.

“The tourism activity in the country continues uninterrupted,” the Deputy Minister said, addressing foreign media representatives.

He used the meeting to outline the current state of Cyprus’ tourism sector and reinforce confidence in the destination.

“The reasons that have established Cyprus as such a popular destination are clear and enduring,” he said.

Meanwhile, Koumis carried out a working visit to Germany and Poland between March 31 and April 3, where he held further meetings with tourism industry stakeholders.

These engagements formed part of a broader strategy to maintain and expand Cyprus’ reach across major European markets.

At the same time, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism welcomed the launch of new routes by Discover Airlines, marking an important development in air connectivity to Cyprus.

The airline, which is part of the Lufthansa Group, will for the first time operate flights to Larnaca International Airport.

These routes will connect Larnaca with the major German hubs of Frankfurt and Munich, strengthening travel links between Cyprus and central Europe.

Koumis also delivered a clear message on Cyprus’ safety and readiness during a recent teleconference with members of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA) from across the continent.

“Cyprus is a safe destination, fully prepared to welcome millions of visitors as it does every year,” he said.

However, it is hard to refute the fact that the island’s tourism sector has been disrupted by regional events.

Indeed, Hermes Airports on Tuesday reported a significant 15.3 per cent decline in air passenger traffic for March 2026 as the ongoing Middle East crisis and the war in Iran disrupted regional travel.

This sharp downturn marks a stark reversal from the record-breaking growth seen in previous months, highlighting the immediate sensitivity of the Cypriot tourism sector to geopolitical instability.

Total passenger traffic fell to 599,218 travellers in March 2026, compared with 707,204 during the same month last year.

At Larnaca Airport, the impact was most pronounced with a 17.1 per cent drop to 415,686 passengers.

Paphos Airport proved slightly more resilient but still recorded a 10.7 per cent decrease, handling 183,532 travellers.