Cyprus is building on a record-breaking year for tourism, with the island welcoming 4.5 million international visitors in 2025 — more than four times its population of approximately one million. In an exclusive interview with Gulf Tourism News at Arabian Travel Market (ATM), George Minas, Market Development Officer, International Relations at the Republic of Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism, shared insights into Cyprus’ growing global appeal, its strategy to strengthen year-round tourism and its focus on expanding opportunities across diverse international markets, including the UAE and wider Middle East.

During the interview, Minas highlighted the importance of diversifying Cyprus’ source markets beyond its traditional European base, while continuing to develop the island’s year-round tourism offering and strengthen its accessibility from key international markets.

“These markets are important. We don’t emphasize only a few European source markets. We believe that working on different markets gives us a chance to attract tourists to the island all year round,” said Minas.

While Cyprus remains renowned for its beaches and summer holidays, the island offers a diverse range of experiences throughout the year, from meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) and sporting groups to cycling, family holidays, cultural experiences and leisure activities.

The destination has also continued to enhance its year-round tourism offering through annual events, including carnival celebrations, Christmas villages and traditional festivals held across cities and villages, giving visitors additional reasons to experience Cyprus beyond the peak summer season.

Among Cyprus’ key tourism strengths is its combination of natural attractions, hospitality, gastronomy and safety. The island has recorded some of the cleanest bathing waters in Europe for consecutive years, while its strong base of repeat visitors demonstrates the lasting impression it makes on travelers.

The tendency of visitors to return to Cyprus again and again is one of the destination’s strongest indicators of its appeal. Travelers who experience the island’s hospitality, landscapes, gastronomy and diverse activities frequently choose to return, reinforcing Cyprus’ reputation as a destination that continues to offer new experiences beyond a first visit.

“Cyprus hospitality is one of the highlights of the island. We have a very high percentage of repeaters. A lot of people come to Cyprus, they are very happy with what they get and they visit again and again,” Minas said.

Additionally, strong air connectivity is further supporting Cyprus’ accessibility from the UAE, with travelers able to choose from different airline services connecting the two markets. Emirate Airlines operates daily flights from Dubai to Cyprus, while Cyprus Airways operates flights from Dubai to Larnaca up to five times a week.

Further strengthening connectivity, flights from Abu Dhabi to Larnaca are set to be introduced in October, providing travelers with another gateway to the Mediterranean island. Minas also highlighted the potential for further connectivity from Abu Dhabi, noting the opportunity to make Cyprus even more accessible to both UAE nationals and expatriate residents.

The availability of different airline options gives travelers greater flexibility across travel preferences and budgets, from premium full-service travel to more competitively priced options.“With Cyprus only three hours away by flight, it is ideal for locals, expatriates and travelers looking for short breaks — and it is a destination that can be enjoyed all year round,” he said.

On the other hand, Cyprus’ proximity to the Middle East is complemented by its culinary offering, which reflects influences from both European and Middle Eastern traditions.

“Gastronomy is one of the strong selling points of Cyprus. It is a blend, a mixture of European with Middle Eastern cuisine, which is unique. Everybody is fond of gastronomy,” Minas said.

The destination’s appeal is further reinforced by its reputation as a safe and welcoming island, attracting visitors from a wide range of international markets.

“Cyprus is safe. We welcome people from many different countries, and everybody is happy. We don’t have any problems regarding safety, and I think this is very important,” Minas added.

With record visitor numbers, strong repeat visitation, expanding air connectivity and a diverse year-round tourism proposition, Cyprus is continuing to strengthen its global tourism position while deepening its engagement with the UAE and wider Middle East markets.

Cyprus is positioning itself not only as a summer beach destination, but as a year-round Mediterranean escape for leisure travelers, families, groups and business events — with the experience encouraging visitors to return again and again.