Cyprus tourism hits 14-year high
Cyprus tourist arrivals hit a 14-year high in 2015, reaching 2.65 million, on the back of a cheaper euro, official data showed on Monday.
The number of holidaymakers arriving on the island last year spiked 8.9 percent, from 2.44 million arrivals in 2014.
This was down to a surge in British visitors attracted by the cheaper euro.
Cyprus is also seen as a safe destination after terror attacks in neighboring countries such as Egypt and Turkey.
The arrival figures were the best since a record 2.69 million tourists in 2001.
More than 78,000 people arrived in December, compared with 57,000 in the same month of 2014.
The rise in 2015 was due mainly to a more than 19 percent spike in arrivals from Britain – the island’s largest market.
There was also a 43 percent hike from Israel and 38 percent from Greece, although arrivals from Russia dropped 17 percent.
The Cyprus Tourism Organization attributes the rise in arrivals to the British pound’s strength against the euro, as well as more direct flights and closer cooperation among industry players.
[AFP]
