The Statistical Service published the report “Tourism Statistics” for the period January-June 2006, which provides detailed data on the movement of travellers, tourist flow, revenue from tourism and movement of permanent residents for the first six months of 2006.
The Statistical Service reported that in January-June 2006 the number of arrivals covering all categories of travellers reached 1,524,516, recording an increase of 0.1% compared to the corresponding period last year while departures reached 1,450,977, recording a decrease of 0.7% compared to January-June 2005.
The number of same-day visitors reached 92,371 compared to 73,770 in January-June 2005. Of these, 3,422 were same-day tourists and 88,949 excursionists (transit at ports and cruise-ship visitors).
The majority of travellers, 91.2% (excluding excursionists), arrived in January-June 2006 on flights or ships which had as country of origin European countries, while 82.1% came from European Union countries in particular.
Looking at individual countries, the United Kingdom leads the list with 44.3% of arrivals or travellers, followed by Greece with 17.1%, Germany with 5.6%, Russia with 4.2%, Sweden with 2.4%, Israel with 2.2%, France with 1.7% and Austria with 1.7%.
Arrivals of tourists reached 998,325 in January- June 2006 compared to 1,018,917 in the corresponding period last year, recording a decrease of 2.0%.
Analysis by country of usual residence shows that 85.7% were residents of the European Union.
The main countries are in order of importance the United Kingdom accounting for 57.0% of tourist arrivals, Germany with 6.8%, Greece with 5.5%, Russia with 4.6%, Sweden with 3.6%, France with 1.9%, Norway with 1.9% and Ireland with 1.8%.
Revenue from tourism for the period January- June 2006, is estimated at CYP 387.1 mln compared to CYP 372.4 mln in the corresponding period last year, recording an increase of 3.9%.
Greece is favoured destination for Cypriots
In January-June 2006, 411,206 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad compared to 401,431 in the corresponding period last year recording an increase of 2.4%.
About 40.8% had visited Greece, 16.5% the United Kingdom, 3.8% Russia, 3.1% Lebanon, 3.0% Germany, 2.7% Syria, 2.7% Bulgaria and 2.5% Israel.
