Cypriots flock to Greece and Europe for October holidays

In a report by Kathimerini's Anna Polyviou, it seems that Cypriots are already planning their next leisure trips for the 1st and 28th of October, with many taking advantage of the extended weekends for short getaways abroad.  Greece remains the top destination for autumn getaways, particularly Athens and Thessaloniki, as Cypriot travelers show strong demand for flights. AEGEAN Airlines reports a significant increase in traffic, with nearly 40% growth for the October 1 holiday and around 65% for October 28 at Athens Airport. Thessaloniki also saw a 40% rise in bookings for early October.

Beyond Greece, popular European cities like Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Istanbul, and Rome are favored by Cypriot travelers for the October 1 holiday. For the October 28 break, destinations like Paris, London, Madrid, and Barcelona are top choices.

Data from the Cyprus Statistical Service shows that last October, Greece led as the primary destination for Cypriots, followed by the UK and Italy. International travel by Cypriots increased by 9.9% in October 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, while tourist arrivals in Cyprus rose by 6.4%. Most trips abroad were for leisure, accounting for 65.1% of travel, with business and study trips making up smaller portions.

Summer 2024 also saw Greece as the top destination for Cypriot travelers, with 39.1% choosing it for their vacations. Trips abroad by Cypriots in August totaled 192,756, though this represented a 3.6% decrease from August 2023.