Tourism in Cyprus has taken a significant hit this spring, with arrivals in April and the first days of May falling by an estimated 30% to 40% compared to the same period last year. The downturn, widely attributed to the ongoing war in Iran, has left resort towns like Ayia Napa unusually quiet during what should be the start of the peak season.
Local business owners in Ayia Napa describe a stark contrast to 2025, which was the island's best tourism year since 2019. Sukan Samnice, who runs a boat rental operation in the town, told Euronews: "Normally, boats, hotels, and restaurants are very busy at this time of year. Last year, all the hotels were fully booked around this period. This year, compared to last year, visitor numbers are down by around 30–40%."
Signs of Recovery in Recent Weeks
Despite the gloomy start, there are emerging signs that the situation may be stabilising. Christos Zannetou, the mayor of Ayia Napa, acknowledged the impact of the Middle East conflict but expressed cautious optimism. "Compared with last year, mobility is down by about 35–40%," he said. "However, this gap is narrowing day by day. It is also important to remember that 2025 was the best tourism season for Cyprus – especially for Ayia Napa – since 2019. So any numerical comparison should take that into account."
Zannetou added that over the past two weeks, booking interest has started to pick up again. "We believe that people trust Ayia Napa and Cyprus as safe destinations," he said.
Hermes Airports, which manages Cyprus's airports, confirmed the overall decline but highlighted encouraging data from key markets. In April, passenger arrivals fell by 16% compared to April 2025, representing roughly 95,000 fewer travellers. Aircraft load factors averaged 76%, down from 83% a year earlier. However, the airport operator noted that over the past two weeks (since 20 April), load factors have improved to between 80% and 85%. Crucially, flights from the UK in May are currently showing a 92% occupancy rate, while Polish routes are also performing strongly with load factors exceeding 90%.
"Cyprus’ connectivity remains robust, with 54 airlines linking the island to 165 destinations across 42 countries," Hermes Airports stated. "Notably, most of the recent adjustments involve fewer reductions in weekly frequencies rather than the cancellation of routes."
Tourists who have already arrived seem unfazed by the regional tensions. A Polish visitor told Euronews: "We decided quite a long time ago to come here. We had several options, but in the end we were persuaded mainly by the warm weather, the sunshine, and of course the beautiful landscapes, which inspired us to paint watercolours as souvenirs."
Others acknowledged the broader geopolitical context. Klaus, a German tourist, said: "We really like it here. Unfortunately, the global situation is quite tense at the moment, and we hope peace will prevail around the world as soon as possible."
The overall summer season (April–October) is still expected to see a decline of around 9% in passenger numbers, equivalent to roughly 450,000 fewer arrivals, despite expanded flight programmes planned for September. The situation echoes broader challenges faced by European destinations, such as Berlin's tourist decline, though the causes differ. For Cyprus, the key variable remains the trajectory of the conflict in the Middle East and the perception of safety among international travellers.
