Tourism in Cyprus: Overnight stays could increase by 75% by 2036

The number of overnight stays by foreign guests in Cyprus could increase by 75% between 2026 and 2036, according to a report prepared for the Accor hotel group. For Europe as a whole, the projected increase is 42%.

The island was ranked among the top five small and medium-sized tourism markets with the highest projected growth. However, this result doesn't mean that 75% more tourists will arrive within a decade—the study only looks at overnight stays.

Report The Changing Face of Europe's Tourism Map to 2036 Created for the Accor hotel group based on forecasts from Tourism Economics, it covers projected changes in tourism in 47 European countries between 2026 and 2036.

According to the authors, Cyprus remains an attractive destination for leisure travelers. The projected increase in overnight stays by foreign guests is significantly higher than that expected for Europe as a whole.

Cyprus in the top five forecast

In the ranking of 15 small and medium-sized tourist markets, the island was ranked fifth place in terms of the expected increase in the number of overnight stays of foreign guests.

Higher results are forecast for Azerbaijan, Latvia, Romania, and Hungary. Cyprus is followed by Lithuania and Croatia, among others.

The comparison shows the rate of projected growth, not the total number of overnight stays. A smaller country can achieve a high percentage yet still host fewer guests than Europe's largest tourist destinations.

More accommodations do not always mean more tourists

One visitor spending a week on the island accounts for seven nights. The total number of nights will therefore increase both as more people arrive and as travelers stay longer.

Therefore, the forecast does not determine how much the number of arrivals will change or how much industry revenue will be. Length of stay, prices, and guest spending will also play a role.

The study covers overnight stays in various types of accommodation, not just hotels.

We also wrote earlier about how big a role tourism plays on the island in relation to the number of inhabitants.

Poland remains an important market

Poland remains one of the most important markets for the Cypriot tourism industry. According to the CYSTAT statistical office, in 2025 there will be more than 4.53 million tourist arrivals.

The largest share was held by Great Britain with 31.8%. Next were Israel with 13% and Poland with a share 8,2%.

The statistics are based on travelers' country of habitual residence, not their citizenship. Arrivals from Poland, therefore, do not exclusively include visits by people holding Polish passports.

This year's data shows that the situation in individual markets can change from month to month. In September 2026, 41,636 arrivals from Poland — 7.5% less than a year earlier. However, Poland was still the third most important market that month.

A detailed comparison of the September results is described in the article "Tourists from Poland in Cyprus. Fewer Arrivals Despite Record-Breaking September".

Europeans will continue to travel around Europe

The report's authors predict that travel between European countries will remain the backbone of international tourism on the continent. By 2036, visitors from other European countries will account for approximately 77% of foreign arrivals to Europe.

However, arrivals from more distant regions may grow faster. The forecast for Europe as a whole predicts a 93% increase in arrivals from the Middle East and an 88% increase from the Asia-Pacific region.

These figures apply to Europe as a whole. The report does not provide a separate forecast for arrivals from these regions to Cyprus.

Higher expenses, but the outcome is not certain

According to the report, spending by foreign visitors in Europe could increase from around 825 billion euros in 2026 to over 1.3 trillion euros in 2036The money is to go to, among others, accommodation facilities, restaurants, shops, and entertainment companies.

This is a long-term forecast, not a guaranteed outcome. The actual development of tourism will be influenced by factors such as the economic and geopolitical situation, prices, availability of connections, and the decisions of travelers themselves.

For Cyprus, it will be important not only to attract new guests, but also how long they will stay on the island and what services they will use during their stay.