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Tourism

Key industry

Tourism is a major contributor to the Cypriot economy. Over 27% of jobs in the Republic of Cyprus are accounted for by tourism, and the country is ranked 26th in the world for the relative contribution of tourism to its national economy. It is also a growing industry. The Republic of Cyprus recorded visitor numbers of 340,534 in the month of August 2007, up 8.1% on the same period of the previous year.

Package holidays

Out of the holiday destinations of the Mediterranean, Cyprus now receives the second highest proportion of package visitors after Malta. Packages here are not especially cheap, and are often activity related, with diving, golf and wedding holidays being among the most popular. In a bid to extend the season and capitalise on the island’s mild climate, winter packages have been increasing in frequency and popularity. These are offered at lower prices than those during peak season.

Golf tourism

The island is also starting to capitalise on the popularity of golf as a tourist pursuit. The first public course (there are two for British forces personnel on the UK military bases) opened in 1994, and this paved the way for the development of more courses. The Cyprus Tourist Organisation is aiming to have at least another ten golf courses up and running within the next few years. The planning and construction of an increasing number of golf properties followed, and such properties are typically priced significantly higher than those without access to golf facilities.

Natural appeal

The island’s beaches are rightly acclaimed, and there is a huge choice on offer. From the packed sands of Ayia Napa’s Nissi Beach to the near-deserted coastline of the Akamas peninsula, there is something for everyone. Cyprus has an impressive 49 Blue Flag beaches, and those around the western coast of Paphos are one of the last Mediterranean nesting grounds of green and loggerhead turtles – both endangered species.

Tourism revenue

As previously mentioned, Cyprus has a name as a successful package holiday destination. Today, the government is working on a long-term initiative to drive up revenue per visitor, while keeping an emphasis on providing holiday packages rather than budget breaks. The policy appears to be working. Statistics from the Cypriot government showed that during October 2006, the number of tourist arrivals was down 3.2% on the same period the previous year at 283,046, but the tourist revenue generated in the same month was up 2% at CY£122.9 million.

Related items

Documents and Reports

	Cyprus property investment report (373Kb)
	Cyprus country guide (766Kb)
	Cyprus property buying guide (979Kb)
Documents and Reports

Other related pages

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