Cyprus tourism has returned to normal after a sharp drop earlier this year caused by regional instability, with October still offering 27°C temperatures and flights from £38.
The island country in the Mediterranean Sea has long been a popular destination for British and international tourists. In 2025, it welcomed a record-breaking 4.5 million visitors, a 12.2% increase compared to 2024. However, arrivals dropped sharply in March 2026 after the US-Israel war on Iran and a drone strike near the British RAF base Akrotiri raised safety concerns across the Eastern Mediterranean.
What caused the tourism decline?
The drone strike caused travel chaos, with around 70% of schedules serving Cyprus disrupted or cancelled overnight. Hotel reservations followed suit, as summer bookings ground to a halt. Travel influencer Nastia, who lives in Cyprus and works in tourism, told Metro that 'tourism definitely dropped when the situation first started.'
According to Nastia, the first weeks of March saw a flurry of booking cancellations. 'This included bookings for summer and even autumn, because people were scared and didn't really know what to expect or whether the situation would escalate further,' she explained. 'I was worried at that time, because in the Ayia Napa and Protaras area, where I live, a huge number of people work in tourism and depend on tourists directly or indirectly, just like the Cypriot economy in general.'
Currently, the UK Foreign Office does not have active travel warnings for Cyprus, but it reminds travellers that 'the situation in the Middle East remains unpredictable.'
A perfect October holiday destination
Cyprus is rich in culture, shaped by its strategic position at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Ancient Greek and Roman remnants can be found at sites such as the amphitheatre of Kourion and the mosaics of Paphos. UNESCO-listed terraced churches in the Troodos Mountains showcase the Byzantine era, while the Ottoman era is represented by Büyük Han, the largest caravanserai in Cyprus, in the old walled city of Nicosia, Europe's last divided capital.
The island is also an outdoor lover's dream. Dozens of beaches regularly earn international Blue Flag eco-labels, from Fig Tree Bay in Protaras to Nissi Beach in Ayia Napa. A 40-minute drive from Ayia Napa is Larnaca, known as the 'city of peace,' home to the Zenobia Wreck, a famous dive site from the 1980s. Elsewhere, scenic wooded trails pass waterfalls like Caledonia Falls, and the Tombs of the Kings, 4th century BC underground burial sites, are carved out of solid rock near Paphos.
For food and drink, traditional mountain villages like Omodos offer local wine-tasting, alongside must-eat dishes such as Kleftiko, Souvla, and Halloumi cheese.
Has Cyprus' tourism industry recovered?
The impact of regional tensions did not last long. When April came, 'the weather started getting better, people saw that there wasn't really any escalation, and things became calmer,' Nastia said. In May, she said the tourist flow 'felt pretty similar to previous years.'
Fast-forward to October, and Visit Cyprus has said tourism services are now operating normally. 'At this moment I wouldn't say I notice a significant decline anymore,' Nastia added. Rather, holiday hotspots like Ayia Napa and Protaras are growing, with renovations happening everywhere, new hotels and projects being built, and 'tourist areas feel very alive.'
There are plenty of direct flights to Cyprus from the UK. In October, Ryanair flies from London Stansted to Paphos for as little as £38. easyJet flies from Gatwick for around £47. For Larnaca, Wizz Air from Gatwick costs around £61.
