July was ‘best month ever’ for Cyprus tourism

Cyprus recorded its best ever monthly revenues from tourism in July, scooping more than 400 million euros, official data showed on Friday.

“It is the best month for tourism income ever recorded by the statistical service,” said an official statement.

Tourism income in July reached 402.2 million euros compared to 342.1 million in the same month last year, registering a 17.6 percent increase.

For the first seven months of the year, revenue from tourism increased 14.9 percent to 1.23 billion euros from 1.07 billion euros in the same period of 2015.

Seen as a safe destination in a restive region, Cyprus is benefiting from an upsurge in arrivals, especially largest markets Britain and Russia, as well as a revival from Greece and Israel.

Tourist arrival figures hit records in the months of May, June, July and August, with an overall total record of 3 million-plus visitors expected in 2016.

Tourism income on the holiday island last year reached 2.11 billion euros, a 4.4 percent hike from 2014, and the sector’s best earnings since 2001.

[AFP]