The number of the residents of Cyprus travelled abroad in July 2008, recorded an increase of 12,9%, compared with the corresponding month in 2007.
According to the results of the Passengers Survey of the Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, 137.419 residents of Cyprus travelled abroad in July 2008 compared to 121.708 in the corresponding month last year, and to 102.040 in July 2006.
Specifically, in July 2008 57.451 residents of Cyprus travelled to Greece, 24.451 to United Kingdom, 5.665 to Russia, 4.403 to Italy, 4.325 to Italy, 3.503 to Israel, 2.673 to Germany and 2.559 to Bulgaria.
Arrivals of tourists in Cyprus totalled 1.332.406 for the period January – July 2008, compared to 1.316.521 in the corresponding period of 2007, recording an increase of 1,2%.
On the contrary, on the basis of the results of the Passengers Survey, arrivals of tourists reached 342.554 in July 2008 compared to 352.423 in July 2007, recording a decrease of 2,8%.
Speaking to CNA, Giorgos Georgiou, Director of the Statistical Service, said that «despite the fact that in June the figures showed a continuing upward tendency in tourist arrivals in Cyprus, in July this tendency was reversed».
Georgiou also pointed out that in July “a substantial reduction of the number of tourists arrived from Greece and Germany was recorded».
A decrease of 0,1% was recorded in tourist arrivals from Sweden (16.810 in July 2008 compared to 16.819 in July 2007), 19,4% decrease from Greece (14.039 compared to 17.428) and 19,8% decrease from Germany (10.545 compared to 13.142 last year).
On the other hand, an increase of 1,0% was recorded in tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom ( from 185.489 in July 2007 to 187.401 in July 2008) and 22,9% increase from Russia (from 22.803 to 28.017 this year) .
According to the results of the Passenger Survey, revenue from tourism reached 229,6 million Euro in June 2008 compared to 207,4 million Euro in the corresponding month of the previous year, recording an increase of 10,7%.
For the period January – June 2008 revenue from tourism is estimated to 671,9 million of Euro compared to 676,4 million of Euro in the corresponding period of 2007, recording a decrease of 0,7%.
