Israelis Become Top Tourists in Cyprus, Driving Island's Tourism Growth

In August 2026, Israeli tourists constituted nearly a quarter of all arrivals to Cyprus, accounting for 23.3% of the total, or 135,628 trips. This placed Israel second only to the United Kingdom, which had 177,603 visitors (30.5%), with a relatively small gap of approximately 42,000 between the two leading markets. Together, these two countries represented over half of all tourist arrivals for the month. The growth in Israeli tourism to Cyprus has been significant year-over-year. In August 2026, arrivals from Israel reached 135,628, a 28.4% increase from 105,597 in August 2025. This surge occurred while the overall tourist flow to Cyprus decreased by 3.3% during the same period, from 602,026 to 581,880 arrivals.

This trend is notable as many traditional Cypriot tourist markets have seen declines. For instance, tourist numbers from the Netherlands dropped by 17.5%, Poland by 12.5%, Germany by 6.7%, and France by 46%. The August surge was not an isolated event; in July 2026, Israel was the source of 119,293 tourists, a 55.8% increase from the previous year, making up 20.5% of the total flow. June saw an even more dramatic rise, with Israeli arrivals more than tripling to 80,343 compared to 30,246 in June 2025. However, the average length of stay for Israeli tourists decreased from 4.7 to 3.9 days.

For Cyprus, the Israeli market's growth has been crucial amidst a general weakening of the tourism sector. From January to August 2026, the island received 2.82 million tourist arrivals, a 7% decrease from the 3.03 million in the same period of 2025. The Israeli market has partially offset declines from other countries. Cypriot statistics indicate that in August, 84.5% of visitors came for leisure, 13% to see friends and relatives, and 2.4% for business.

Several factors contribute to Cyprus's appeal for Israelis. Its close proximity and short flight times make it an accessible destination, especially in the context of Middle East instability, offering a less complicated alternative to longer journeys. While the geopolitical situation may play a role, official statistics do not attribute traveler motives directly to it. The structure of air travel also favors Cyprus, remaining a relatively easy destination to reach from Israel, with flights distributed between Larnaca and Paphos airports. This offers various holiday options, from coastal resorts near Larnaca to the traditional atmosphere of Paphos, and diverse itineraries including Limassol, Ayia Napa, and the Troodos Mountains.

The overall passenger traffic at Larnaca and Paphos airports for January-August 2026 was 8.82 million, a 3.3% decrease from the record year of 2025 but a 7.9% increase compared to 2024. The recovery from a period of instability earlier in the year, which saw passenger traffic lagging behind 2025 by over 15% in March-April, had narrowed to about 1% by July-August.

In 2025, Israel was already the second-largest source of tourists for Cyprus, with a 13% share after the UK's 31.8%. The August 2026 figure of 23.3% signifies a substantial shift, highlighting the growing importance of the Israeli market for the island's tourism industry.