Tourist season under the sign of uncertainty in Cyprus. The number of holidays fell by 40% because of the war in Iran
Concerns are growing in Cyprus about this year's tourist season. The war in Iran and early data from April and early May show a sharp drop in tourist numbers, estimated at 30% – 40%.
Cyprus PHOTO: Shutterstock
A Euronews team went to Ayia Napa, one of the most famous resorts in Cyprus, where the lack of tourists is clearly visible. Local patrons say the situation in the Middle East has hit tourism hard. They say May this year looks very different from last year's record season.
“Boats, hotels and restaurants were normally very busy at this time,” said Sukan Samnice, a boat rental operator in Ayia Napa. “Last year, all the hotels were full at this time. This year, the number of visitors is about 30% to 40% less than last year,” according to Euronews.
Ayia Napa Mayor Christos Zannetou said tensions in the Middle East had seriously affected tourism. He added, however, that tourists are beginning to understand that Cyprus remains a safe destination. According to him, the tourism sector is showing the first signs of recovery.
“Compared to last year, activity is reduced by approximately 35% – 40%” said Zannetou. “However, this difference is shrinking day by day. We also have to take into account that 2025 was the best tourist season for Cyprus, especially for Ayia Napa, from 2019 onwards. Therefore, comparisons should be viewed carefully. In the last two weeks we started to see signs of a comeback. We believe people have confidence in Ayia Napa and Cyprus as safe destinations and booking interest seems to be picking up again,” the mayor also said.
Tourists who have already arrived in Cyprus do not seem very worried. Many say they enjoy the island's sun, beaches and scenery.
“We decided a long time ago to come here,” said a tourist from Poland. “We had several options, but we were convinced by the warm weather, the sun and the beautiful landscapes. These inspired us to paint the watercolors as a memory.”
However, some visitors admit that the international situation is tense.
“We really like it here,” said Klaus, a tourist from Germany. “Unfortunately, the situation in the world is quite tense now, and we hope that peace will come as soon as possible.”
Arrivals through Cyprus airports fell by 16% in April. However, flights from the UK for May are now at 92% busy, showing that demand is starting to recover.
Hermes Airports, the company that manages airports in Cyprus, sent a statement explaining the situation.
“April saw a 16% decrease compared to April 2025, meaning around 95,000 fewer passengers arrived here,” the company said. “The average aircraft load factor was 76% at both airports, compared to 83% in the same period last year. For the summer season, from April to October, airlines have adjusted some flight schedules. The total number of seats has been reduced by no more than 5%, which is about 600,000 seats, although more flights are planned for September. Passenger numbers would fall by around 9%, i.e. around 450,000 fewer arrivals“, the Company announces.
In the last two weeks, since April 20, the occupancy rate of flights to Cyprus has increased to 80% – 85%. Major markets such as the UK and Poland are performing very well with over 90% occupancy.
“Cyprus' air links remain strong. The island is connected by 54 airlines to 165 destinations in 42 countries. Most of the recent changes are not route cancellations, just reductions in the number of flights per week. For May, the data shows good activity from the major tourist markets. The UK averages around 30 flights a day to Cyprus, with a load factor of 92%. Israel has around 20 flights a day, with 60% occupancy. Poland has nine flights per day with 93% occupancy and Germany has eight flights per day with 86% occupancy.”the Company also states in the press release.
