Tourist arrivals set new record with 3.18 mln in 2016

Tourist arrivals reached 3.18 mln last year, setting an all time record, according to statistical service Cystat data, with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation hailing 12016 as “a landmark year.”

Total arrivals reached 3,185,531, an increase of 19.8% from 2,659,405 in. The previous record in arrivals was set in 2001 with 2,696,700.

Arrivals from the United Kingdom, Cyprus’ biggest tourist market, reached 1.15 mln with an increase of 11.2% from 2015. UK tourists in 2015 amounted to 36.4% of total arrivals. Russia followed with 781,634, an increase of 49% year on year. Arrivals from Greece reached 160,254 up 15% from 2015, followed by arrivals from Israel with 148,739, up 51% year on year. Arrivals from Germany amounted to 124,030, registering an annual increase of 10.5%.

Tourist arrivals in the summer season, from April to October, marked a new all time high with 2,722,804. The winter months of 2016, from January to March and between November and December saw the arrival of 463,727 tourists marking an increase of 23.2% compared with arrivals in the corresponding periods of 2015. Arrivals in the winter season of 2016 marked the fourth best record, marginally behind 2001 and 1997.

In the last month of 2016, tourist arrivals reached 87.927, up 12.2% compared with 2015. December was the 18th consecutive month marking an annual increase in tourist arrivals.

The CTO described 2016 as “a landmark year which will remain in history as the most successful year compared with any previous seasons.”

For 2017, CTO stressed that although signs are positive it will take a huge effort by all, professionalism, dedication and coordination to achieve similar or better results.

“The euphoria that has been created could easily bring complacency and a return to bad practices,” CTO said in a statement.