Situated on the southeast coast of Cyprus, Ayia Napa is a renowned resort known for its beaches, attracting tourists. However, this year, industry professionals are not very optimistic.
The bleak international news, particularly with the war in Iran, is starting to impact the start of the tourist season.
In 2025, the island welcomed a record number of 4.5 million visitors.
“Usually, at this time of year, boats, hotels, and restaurants are very busy. Last year, at the same time, all hotels were fully booked at 100%. This year, compared to last year, the numbers are lower, I think by 30 to 40%,” said Sukan Samnice, a boat hire owner in Ayia Napa.
On March 2, a drone launched from Lebanon hit a British naval base on the island, causing a wave of flight cancellations.
The mayor of the resort, Christos Zannetou, emphasized that the situation in the Middle East has caused a lot of damage, but tourists are starting to understand that Cyprus is a safe destination. “That’s why we are seeing a recovery now,” he told Euronews.
Even though cancellation rates soared shortly after the conflict began, they have since decreased, and some, like the mayor of Ayia Napa, prefer to remain optimistic and put things into perspective.
Tourism, which represents about 15% of the GDP, is crucial for the country, hoping that visitors will not be discouraged by the news. Some have even chosen to maintain their stay on the island.
“We decided a long time ago to come here; there were several options, but we were mostly convinced by the warm weather and sun, not to mention the picturesque landscapes that inspired us to paint some watercolors as souvenirs,” said Philippe, a Polish tourist.
Others, even if they made the trip, still consider the international situation. “We really like it here. Unfortunately, the global situation is somewhat tense at the moment, and we hope that peace will prevail worldwide as soon as possible,” said Klaus, a German tourist.
Tourist arrivals at Cypriot airports dropped by 16% in April, but in May, flights from the UK show an occupancy rate of 92%, indicating a recovery in tourist traffic.
The statement from the Cypriot airport operator indicates that “April saw a 16% decline compared to April 2025, with about 95,000 fewer passengers. The average aircraft occupancy rate was 76% in both airports, down from 83% last year. Airlines have made some adjustments to their schedules for the summer season, reducing total capacity by up to 5%, or about 600,000 seats, despite the planned extension of flight schedules in September. The total number of passengers for the period is expected to decrease by about 9%, or around 450,000 arrivals.”
However, there are encouraging signs. Over the past two weeks (since April 20), arrival occupancy rates have improved, reaching between 80 and 85%. “Key tourist markets like the UK and Poland are performing particularly well, with occupancy rates of over 90%. Cyprus’s connectivity remains strong, with 54 airlines connecting the island to 165 destinations in 42 countries. It is worth noting that most recent adjustments mainly involve reductions in weekly service frequency rather than cancellations. In May, indicative figures show strong activity in key markets: the UK averages 30 daily inbound flights with a 92% occupancy rate, Israel about 20 daily flights with a 60% occupancy rate, Poland 9 daily flights with a 93% occupancy rate, and Germany 8 daily flights with an 86% occupancy rate.”
