Travel abroad up 5.7% in April

…UK sees 47% increase, Greece decline

Cyprus residents traveling abroad increased by 5.7% year-on-year to 81.206 in April 2006 compared to 76.841 a year ago in the same month, while the total number of travelers during the first four months of the year is up 4.2% y/y to 256.937.

Greece remained the most popular destination for Cypriots traveling abroad, with 37.023 or 45% of the total choosing to travel there, but on a year-on-year comparison basis, it recorded a 1.76% decline.

The UK market on the other hand recorded a 46.7% spectacular increase in April to 11.406 from 7775 a year ago, followed in third place by Russia with 3743 travels, up 34% y/y from 2797 a year ago.

Travel to Israel was also up 70% to 2380, Lebanon was up 107% at 2265 while Egypt and Syria recorded sharp declines of 49% and 45% respectively to 1261 and 2035.

The Statistics Department revealed that 52.7% of those traveling abroad in April were females and 47.3% male, while 67% were aged between 15-44 years, of whom 51% traveled abroad on holiday, 20% for business and 25% for studies.