Cyprus travel abroad up by 9.6% Jan-May

The number of residents travelling abroad from Cyprus rose by 9.6% in the first five months of 2007 to reach 359,478 according to Financial Mirror calculations using monthly Statistical Service data.

Greece, only an hour or so away and with frequent flights, remains the most popular destination, with trips up by 7.0% to 139,941 in January-May.

Trips to the UK, the second most popular market, leapt by 35.6% to 74,046, while there was a notable boom in visits to Egypt, up 65.3% to 8,439. 

Trips to Lebanon and Syria, on the other hand, saw a sharp fall.

The main age-bracket for travel is among 25 to 44 year-olds, accounting for 44.5% of the total, while the proportion of females (54.2%) outpaced those of males.

Growth in the outbound market is in sharp contrast to the 5.1% fall in the number of tourists visiting the island in the same period.