Cyprus’ tourism sector has performed surprisingly well this year, despite the difficulties caused by developments in the wider region. At the same time, early indications from the British market for 2027 are positive, with major tour operators already announcing plans to increase the number of available airline seats to the island. These were among the key points made by Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Tourism, Costas Koumis, on the sidelines of the World Travel Market (WTM), currently taking place in London.
As he pointed out, despite the uncertainty that emerged in the tourism market following the incident on 1 March, Cyprus’ tourism industry managed to significantly limit its losses. Koumis stressed that the decline in tourist arrivals compared with the previous year has narrowed to 5.6%, adding that he expects the figure to fall even further by the end of 2026. “Once again, Cyprus’ tourism sector has managed to overcome the challenges,” he said, noting that both statistical data and expert analysis confirm the resilience of the industry.
Looking ahead to 2027, the Deputy Minister expressed cautious optimism, highlighting the particularly encouraging outcome of initial meetings with Cyprus’ strategic partners in the British market. He revealed that major tour operators had expressed their intention to increase airline seat capacity to Cyprus, creating prospects for further growth in visitor arrivals from the United Kingdom. However, Koumis warned that 2027 is expected to be a challenging year for international tourism. Rising airfares could influence consumers’ decisions when planning their holidays, he said.
Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that Cyprus’ tourism industry would successfully meet this challenge without suffering significant losses. The Deputy Minister also referred to efforts to strengthen air connectivity between Cyprus and the United Kingdom, which he described as a key priority of the country’s tourism policy.
Cyprus currently has direct air connections with 18 different British cities, served by six airlines. As already announced, a seventh carrier is expected to be added, further improving travel options between the two countries. “Air connectivity between Cyprus and the United Kingdom is improving even further, and this is something we have been working towards,” Koumis underlined.
The Deputy Minister made his remarks during the World Travel Market in London, one of the most important international events for the tourism industry. The exhibition is among the first major events of the tourism sector to provide an opportunity both to review the season coming to an end and to shape the trends and partnerships for the next tourism season. According to the organisers, this year’s event brings together representatives from more than 180 countries, over 4,000 exhibitors and 5,500 professional buyers, while attendance is expected to exceed 46,000 participants.
WTM serves as a major meeting point for government officials, tourism organisations, travel industry businesses, airlines and other key players in the global tourism sector.
