Greek Cyprus tourism heads for record

NCOSIA

REUTERS photo

Bailed-out Greek Cyprus recorded a 40-percent hike in tourist arrivals in March, setting the stage for a record year for the holiday island and indicating an economic revival, official data showed on April 18.

Tourist arrivals already hit a 14-year high in 2015 reaching 2.65 million, on the back of a cheaper euro. 

“The large increase recorded in March ... shows at an early stage that this year, if something unexpected does not occur, will be the year with the highest number of arrivals in the history of [Greek] Cyprus tourism,” state-run Cyprus Tourism Organisation said.

“Already the first quarter recorded a strong increase of 32.4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2015 with nearly all markets showing growth.”

Despite the euro faring better this year, experts say Cyprus is attracting more tourists because it is seen as a safe destination in a turbulent region dogged by terror attacks such as in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia.

The number of tourists arriving on the eastern Mediterranean holiday spot in March reached 137,013 compared to 97,479 in the same month last year, an increase of 40.6 percent, the statistical service said.