Travel abroad up 8.8% in May

Cypriots’ love to travel abroad is showing no signs of slowing as evidenced by the latest statistics which showed that foreign travel recorded an 8.8% increase in May to 72.752 persons.

During the first five months of the year, a total of 319.000 persons traveled abroad compared to 295.000 a year ago in the same period, recording an increase of 8%.

Although the level of increase in May was lower than the 17.7% recorded in April when the number of Cypriots traveling abroad had reached 76.841, but the movement is considered as satisfactory since last year the corresponding May figures were high.

A sharp reduction in air fares following the liberalisation of the air travel market after Cyprus became an EU member, which saw air fares tumble to as low of CYP 15 one-way to Athens has been the main reason why so many Cypriots prefer to travel abroad.

Greece remains the most popular destination for Cypriots as it absorbed 40% of the total traffic during May with 29.685 visits, followed by the UK with 15% or 10.703 and Russia in third place with 4.5% or 3332.

The neighbouring countries of Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Egypt accounted for 11% of total travel abroad. The vast majority or 64% cited pleasure as the reason for traveling abroad while 26% were for business. Females accounted for 55% of total travel abroad.