After a record year for tourism and a small dip in global travel demand, Cyprus is planning to grow its travel industry even more in 2025.

The country is improving flight options, offering smart incentives, and focusing on better visitor experiences to beat last year’s four million tourist mark.

Strong start signals promising year

In 2024, over four million tourists visited Cyprus—a new record that brought in more than €3 billion. Early data for 2025 shows a 6% increase in arrivals compared to the same time last year, according to Deputy Tourism Minister Costas Koumis.

Officials credited better flight connections and a clearer plan to attract new markets as driving the growth.

While Cyprus is known for its summer beaches, the country now wants to draw visitors year-round.

“We’re not just counting heads. We’re building better experiences,” Koumis said.

New routes, broader reach

Better flight connections are a key part of the government’s plan. Airlines are flying more often and to more destinations.

This year, Paphos Airport alone will serve 58 airports in 21 countries.

The change follows a global pattern. In February 2025, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported a 2.6% rise in total passenger demand compared to the year before. International travel grew even more, up 5.6%.

Although growth slowed a bit from January, IATA said that February still hit record numbers. Airlines are adding more flights, which is good news for places like Cyprus that rely on air travel.

Sports tourism delivers quick wins

Cyprus is also focusing on niche tourism, like sports travel, which is already paying off. In just two weeks, two international sports events brought over 5,000 visitors to the island.

These tourists stay longer, spend more, and come outside the usual summer season. That helps small businesses that often see fewer customers once the beach crowds leave.

“The aim is to keep hotels, restaurants, and shops open year-round,” said Koumis.

Paphos shines in tourism spotlight

Paphos, on Cyprus’s west coast, has become a tourism success. Koumis said that the city keeps drawing strong visitor numbers because of investments in better hotels and infrastructure.

“Many hotels in Paphos have renovated or added new amenities. The international market has taken notice,” he said.

Paphos offers more than just beaches. Its mix of history, outdoor activities, and cultural events attracts many different types of travelers.

Cyprus eyes year-round tourism economy

Officials hope that broadening the tourism sector will bring long-term benefits. The goal is to reduce seasonal revenue drops and give workers more stable jobs.

Cyprus wants to rely less on visitors from a few countries or just the busy summer months. By focusing on sports, health, business events, and cultural tourism, the island can attract people year-round.

This strategy also follows global trends. IATA data shows steady travel growth in regions like Asia-Pacific and Europe. In February, European airlines saw a 5.7% increase in traffic.

If Cyprus keeps investing smartly, it’s in a good position to benefit from this growth.

Challenges linger despite growth

As Cyprus marks its progress, global air travel still faces challenges. In February, North American airlines saw a drop in demand.

The IATA pointed to problems like limited airport capacity, including a recent shutdown at Heathrow that disrupted travel across Europe.

Airlines also continue to push back against European Union (EU) rules on passenger rights. IATA Director General Willie Walsh said that it is unfair to hold airlines responsible for delays caused by others, such as airport operators.

For a country like Cyprus that relies on air travel, these problems have real impacts. Flight delays and disruptions affect both tourism businesses and public services.

Citizens raise concerns on sustainability

Not everyone sees the tourism boom as a good thing. Some locals worry that the island;s resources can’t keep up. On social media, people point to water shortages and stressed infrastructure.

One person said that tourists often get water while residents face limits. Another warned about possible power cuts during the busy season.

“If we don’t plan better, we’ll have thousands of sunburned tourists holding candles and buckets,” one resident wrote.

Such complaints reflect growing pressure to balance economic gain with long-term sustainability. Officials may need to address these concerns head-on if they hope to keep both tourists and residents happy.

Moving forward with clear vision

Tourism is still a key part of Cyprus’ economy. The government’s plan seems to be working.

However, challenges remain. Other warm-weather spots compete for the same visitors. Climate change, strained infrastructure, and regional tensions also create risks.

Even so, if Cyprus keeps expanding flight options, offering more types of tourism, and listening to local concerns, 2025 could be another strong year.

“We must view tourism as a strategic sector with continuous improvement and diversification at its core,” Koumis said.

Better travel for tourists

The positive outlook for Cyprus’ tourism in 2025 will affect both short-term visitors and people staying longer, including migrants.

For short-term travelers, the rise in visitor numbers and upgrades in places like Paphos make Cyprus more attractive and competitive. This comes as the EU prepares to launch the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS).

ETIAS will require travelers from visa-exempt countries outside the EU to get approval before entering the Schengen area. It is meant to improve security, but it may make last-minute trips harder to plan.

For Cyprus, aligning with ETIAS could help manage tourist numbers and ease the strain on systems that handle arrivals.

For long-term visitors and migrants, the tourism boom brings both opportunities and challenges. More tourism can create jobs in hotels, construction, and transport—industries that rely on seasonal and migrant workers.

However, it can also add pressure to local infrastructure. Public concerns, like water shortages during peak travel months, may increase resistance to new arrivals, especially if migrants are seen as adding to those problems.

Pressure points in policy

Cyprus’s strong push to grow its tourism sector highlights a bigger challenge across the EU: how to balance economic growth from travel with sustainability and migration control.

The steady rise in international travel has exposed weak spots in EU rules, especially around passenger rights under Regulation EU261.

This issue also affects immigration policy. Since economies like Cyprus depend heavily on incoming travelers, the EU may consider easing short-term visa rules or work permits for people from outside the EU.

However, this flexibility could clash with efforts to tighten long-term immigration, especially when public concerns grow over limited resources like water and energy during busy tourist seasons.

As international travel drives much of the growth in air traffic, the need for consistent visa and border policies across EU countries becomes more urgent.

The ETIAS, designed to improve security and simplify entry, might be the first step toward broader changes in how the EU handles different types of travel.

Countries like Cyprus may support a tiered system—making it easier for tourists and business travelers to enter while setting stricter rules for permanent settlement.

In this way, future EU immigration policy will likely reflect not just global events or humanitarian needs, but also the practical demands of air travel, tourism, and public pressure on infrastructure.

Cyprus may end up showing how this balance plays out across Europe.

Can infrastructure keep pace?

Cyprus is on track for another record year in tourism in 2025, and the outlook is strong. Flights are increasing, niche events are attracting global visitors, and places like Paphos are seeing real growth.

However, the bigger picture needs attention. International travel is rising, and Cyprus’s tourism goals are bold—but global trends also point to risks. Changes in domestic travel and limited infrastructure could cause problems.

To succeed, Cyprus must back its plans with systems that can handle the pressure. Tourists are coming—the real question is whether the country is ready.