Fresh data from the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat) show that 537,744 tourists entered the Republic in October 2025, a 17.1 % jump on the same month last year【turn7view0】【turn8view0】. Cumulative arrivals for January–October now top 4.14 million—already 11 % ahead of 2024 and closing in on the all-time record set pre-pandemic. UK nationals remained the dominant source market (31 %), followed by Israel, Germany, Poland and Sweden. Business travel represented a modest but growing 7.1 % of visits, up from 6.4 % a year earlier.
The rebound has clear mobility implications. Larnaca and Paphos airports—which handled the bulk of traffic—have re-activated seasonal staffing plans and are fast-tracking biometric e-gate installations to manage winter peak flows. Hermes Airports reports average Schengen-area connection times are down to 45 minutes after recent layout tweaks. Hoteliers say the tourist mix is diversifying, with Eastern-European digital nomads extending stays beyond 30 days, often switching to the dedicated Digital Nomad Visa once on the ground.
![Tourist arrivals up 17 % in October as Cyprus edges toward record year]()
Corporate relocation specialists note knock-on effects in the housing market: long-stay occupancy in serviced apartments exceeded 80 % in October, squeezing availability for inbound assignees. Companies are therefore advised to secure leases at least six weeks in advance and explore suburban inventory.
The government views the numbers as vindication of its year-round tourism strategy. Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis told parliament that winter capacity on key routes such as London, Tel Aviv and Frankfurt will be at “historic highs,” helped by the EU’s slot waiver extension through March 2026.
Assuming the current growth trajectory holds, Cyprus could surpass 5 million tourist arrivals by year-end. Mobility planners should prepare for tighter hotel availability around Orthodox and Western Christmas, and ensure travellers are aware of the 2023-introduced online embarkation form, which remains compulsory for non-EU visitors.
The rebound has clear mobility implications. Larnaca and Paphos airports—which handled the bulk of traffic—have re-activated seasonal staffing plans and are fast-tracking biometric e-gate installations to manage winter peak flows. Hermes Airports reports average Schengen-area connection times are down to 45 minutes after recent layout tweaks. Hoteliers say the tourist mix is diversifying, with Eastern-European digital nomads extending stays beyond 30 days, often switching to the dedicated Digital Nomad Visa once on the ground.
Corporate relocation specialists note knock-on effects in the housing market: long-stay occupancy in serviced apartments exceeded 80 % in October, squeezing availability for inbound assignees. Companies are therefore advised to secure leases at least six weeks in advance and explore suburban inventory.
The government views the numbers as vindication of its year-round tourism strategy. Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis told parliament that winter capacity on key routes such as London, Tel Aviv and Frankfurt will be at “historic highs,” helped by the EU’s slot waiver extension through March 2026.
Assuming the current growth trajectory holds, Cyprus could surpass 5 million tourist arrivals by year-end. Mobility planners should prepare for tighter hotel availability around Orthodox and Western Christmas, and ensure travellers are aware of the 2023-introduced online embarkation form, which remains compulsory for non-EU visitors.
