Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday that Cyprus is a “completely safe” destination for tourists, despite renewed concerns about the island’s tourism outlook after a drone hit the British Akrotiri air force base earlier this month.
Assurances on safety and stability
Christodoulides told Greek business news website money-tourism.gr that Cyprus “remains a stable European pillar in a geographical area of particular geopolitical importance,” while pointing to recent gains in the tourism sector. He said visitor arrivals rose by about 40 per cent and tourism revenues by about 50 per cent over the past three years.
He said the results confirm Cyprus’ strong position on the international tourism map and reflect “the success of a model of cooperation between the state and the private sector.”
Optimism despite drone strike
Despite the drone strike, Christodoulides said he remains optimistic about the immediate future of the tourism industry, adding that the country has shown it can adapt to difficult conditions and maintain its momentum during uncertainty.
Lessons from the war in Ukraine
He cited the war in Ukraine, saying Cyprus lost about one million Russian visitors after the outbreak of the war in 2022, but managed to respond through targeted actions by the government and private sector. He said efforts focused on replacing those losses with visitors from countries including Poland, Israel and other European countries.
Role amid Middle East conflict
On the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Christodoulides said Cyprus is “not part of the region’s problems, but on the contrary, functions as a pillar of stability and cooperation.” He said the island’s location and its status as a European Union member state make Cyprus an important link between Europe and the Middle East.
Do you think Cyprus’ recent tourism growth can continue despite regional security concerns?
