Larnaka Airport (c) Hermes Airports
The Republic of Cyprus is served by two international airports, both operated by Hermes Airports: Larnaka and Paphos. In 2023, the two airports saw a combined record number of arrivals of 11.6 million passengers. This is a 3% increase over the 2019 arrivals, which was the last full tourism year before the COVID pandemic, and indicates that Cyprus air travel has rebounded fully since the Pandemic.
Some statistics on air traffic in Cyprus in 2023:
Larnaka Airport had a total of 8.1 million passengers, a 34% increase over 2022.
Paphos Airport had a total of 3.6 million passengers, a 12% increase over 2022.
Some 52 airlines operate from Cyprus, serving 159 routes to 39 countries.
Tourist arrivals in Cyprus have been badly affected by the COVID Pandemic as well as by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and the subsequent embargo. In 2019, the last year of “normal” tourism inflows, Russia comprised the second largest source country, for Cyprus, with 20% of total arrivals numbering 781,856 tourists. Ukraine was the eight largest source market, with 95,031 arrivals.
Source Market | # Arrivals 2019 | % |
United Kingdom | 1,330,635 | 33% |
Russia | 781,856 | 20% |
Asia | 438,156 | 11% |
Israel | 293,746 | 7% |
Greece | 171,512 | 4% |
Germany | 151,500 | 4% |
Sweden | 144,605 | 4% |
Ukraine | 95,031 | 2% |
Poland | 80,243 | 2% |
Switzerland | 67,534 | 2% |
Total Arrivals 2019 | 3,976,777 | 100% |
Source: Cystat Tourism Database
Overall, we estimate that in 2023, tourist arrivals will reach 3,867,417 travellers from all countries, just under the 2019 record of 3,976,777 travellers.
The impact of COVID on tourist arrivals is seen in the table below, with arrivals taken from Cystat for 2006-2022, and estimated full-year forecast by Navigator for 2023.
Source: Cystat Tourism Database
For further information on tourism investments, market research or other consultancy services in Cyprus, please contact us.
Photo (c) Hermes Airports
Source:
Hermes Airports: 2023 Becomes a New Milestone for the Future. January 4, 2024.
Cystat: Tourism Database. Accessed on 8 January 2024.