Dorita Yiannakou
Tourism officials are expressing cautious optimism about Cyprus’ 2025 Easter holiday season, with early bookings and rising airport traffic pointing to another strong year for the island’s travel sector.
Hotel occupancy from April 10 to 22 remains solid, buoyed by strong pre-bookings and a boost in passenger arrivals at the island’s two main airports. Officials say this year’s Easter performance could mirror 2024, a record year for Cypriot tourism, with more than 4 million arrivals and over €3 billion in tourism revenue.
"Easter is always a strong indicator of what the summer season may look like, and so far, things are looking positive," a tourism industry representative told local outlet K.
Holiday demand climbs 10%
Hotel pre-bookings for the Easter period are up 10% compared to last year, according to the Cyprus Hoteliers Association (PASYXE). The peak period is expected to fall between April 10 and 22, with many European travelers extending their stays beyond Holy Week.
PASYXE estimates that the average stay during Easter is around 7 to 8 days. High occupancy is projected in coastal tourist areas, particularly Paphos and the free area of Famagusta.
In Paphos, occupancy for the first half of April is expected to reach 70%, while hotels in the Famagusta region are seeing rates of around 60%. Larnaca hotels are reporting similar figures.
This year, Easter Sunday falls on April 20, aligning both Orthodox and Catholic calendars, another factor contributing to increased travel during the holiday period.
Central Europe, UK and Israel drive bookings
Tourists visiting Cyprus this Easter are primarily coming from Central Europe, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia. Bookings from the United Kingdom remain strong, while arrivals from Israel have seen a significant year-over-year increase.
Passenger traffic on the rise
Air travel also saw gains in March, with Larnaca and Paphos airports handling a combined 707,304 passengers, a 5.91% increase over March 2024. For the January–March period, overall passenger traffic rose 6.79% year-over-year.
According to the Ministry of Transport, Larnaca Airport saw a 15.17% jump in passengers in the first quarter, while traffic at Paphos Airport declined by 11.45%.
Flight volumes are also up, increasing by 5.85% to 5,921 total flights. Larnaca saw the largest boost, with notable growth in routes to Israel, Greece, the UK, Poland, and Armenia. At Paphos, traffic was up on routes to Germany, Israel, Sweden, Lithuania, and Ireland.
Cypriots travel abroad for Easter
While Cyprus welcomes visitors, many locals are also traveling abroad to mark the Easter holiday. According to the Cyprus Association of Travel and Tourist Agents (ACTTA), most Cypriots are opting for short getaways lasting four to five days.
Greece remains the top choice, with popular destinations including Corfu, Athens, Thessaloniki, Volos, Pelion, Kastoria, the Peloponnese, and Arachova. Demand is also strong for other European destinations such as Italy, France, Austria, Germany, Poland, and the UK.
Most travelers have booked package holidays, though some may opt for last-minute deals despite higher prices.
Air connectivity expands
Cyprus’ improved air connectivity is also playing a key role in the optimistic outlook for 2025. This year, the island is connected to 39 countries via direct flights.
Officials report notable growth in the German market, with flights now arriving from 10 German airports, a record for Cyprus. New routes from Romania and the return of flights from Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries are also strengthening the island’s international appeal.
*This article has been translated from its Greek original.
