This year alone, nearly four million people have already flown into Cyprus!
Of our two international airports, Paphos and Larnaca, the latter sees by far the most arrivals: 8,073,932 flew into Larnaca Airport in 2023, compared with the 3,565,512 who arrived via Paphos.
Many of these are tourists; the majority from the UK, Greece, Israel, Poland and Germany. And by July, they’re arriving in their droves. Clearly Cyprus has got something beyond the average.
Bulgaria may be cheaper (budgetyourtrip.com ranks Cyprus 27th on the list of most expensive European holiday destinations), and Italy is certainly closer – unless you’re coming from the east. The south of France has a thriving tourist industry. And if it’s simply sun that visitors are after, why not head to Greece or Malta?
So what is it that makes a 25-year-old Swede suddenly say ‘I simply must holiday in Cyprus this summer!’?
On one of the hottest days of the year, we went to Larnaca Airport to find out. And spoke to oodles of arrivals to discover what made them choose Cyprus over Barcelona, Bali or Blackpool…
“Because everyone in our town goes to Cyprus – it is where you go for summer!” says Ella, one of five 20-somethings who’ve just got off a flight from Helsinki. “And it is cheap, we are on a package holiday for one week in Ayia Napa. It costs the same for us as a trip to Italy or Greece, but Cyprus has the reputation for being the best place.”
Of the five Finns, only one has visited the island before.
“I prefer Bali or Thailand,” she admits, with an air of resignation. “I came to Ayia Napa two years before, and it is full of Brits. They drink. They are noisy. They are ‘extra’ in a bad way. But Cyprus is cheap, and we do not need to go out at night, we are here for the beach.”
Three young German men are our next encounter. They’re all on their phones, and appear a little lost. In precise and polite English, they explain they’re waiting for a friend to collect them.
“That is why we come to Cyprus every year,” says one, hefting a laptop from one arm to the other. “We have to go somewhere, and our friend has a house in Limassol so we pay only for our flights and our food. It is a good deal I think.”
As a white SUV arrives, the Germans make their courteous goodbyes. We approach a middle-aged couple having a smoke among their luggage. They too visit regularly…
“We are from Switzerland, we work in a government office. It is very grey, not like here,” laughs the wife, gesturing with her cigarette to the searing blue above us. “We come for a break in Protaras. We love the relaxed life and the food. There is nothing bad about Cyprus. It is all good.”
Returnees are popular, it seems. Hermes Airport surveys suggest that 33 per cent of visitors have been to the island before, and a quarter at least twice. And there’s good reason for that…
“The unique, authentic experiences and Cypriot hospitality are among the elements that attract tourists to Cyprus from various markets,” says Director of Aviation Development, Marketing and Communication at Hermes Airports Maria Kouroupi.
“Despite the ongoing challenges of 2024, the outlook for the summer season is very positive partly due to our efforts as well as other tourism stakeholders on the island. We are happy to see the terminals full of life and we are confident that the airport staff will offer a positive travel experience.”
Certainly the staff are doing their best with David and wife, an overheated young couple who have just come off a flight from Wales. While staff ply them with water, and shepherd them back into the air-conditioned concourse, we discover the pair are here for a wedding.
“It’s our first time in Cyprus, is it always so hot?” David pants. “Though I am looking forward to a swim – I want to see the turtles; you don’t get many turtles in Aberystwyth!”
“I bloody hope the wedding’s not on the beach!” his partner adds.
A few interviews later, we discover four young ladies clearly here for a similar purpose: they’re filming a Tiktok, and one of them is wearing a veil. But this group seem unbothered by the temperature.
“It’s my bachelorette party,” explains Elena. “We came from Macedonia, and we chose Cyprus because it is close. And because we hear that Ayia Napa is a good party,” she adds, to excited whoops from her friends.
A sedate Slovakian couple nearby looks askance at this youthful exuberance.
“We are going to Paphos, but there was no flight there – only to Larnaca,” explains the husband. “So we wait for our taxi now. We want the sun,” he adds, clearly referencing the weather. “And Cyprus always has sun.”
Our next interviewees all mention the weather, and four Swedish girls explain it’s their entire reason for visiting. “The best thing about Cyprus is the heat,” says one, pulling out her phone to show us it’s currently 14 degrees in Uppsala.
“We have visited Ayia Napa before,” she says. “I have family in Spain; sometimes I go to Croatia. I went to Ios – that was very beautiful. But I think Cyprus also is very beautiful. And very hot.
“The best thing about Cyprus is the heat. When it is for one week, you are by the sea and you do not work, then this much sun is perfect. But I do not think it is fun all the time?”
Agreeing sadly, we wave them onto their tour bus. And then we pack up to head back to the 40-degrees plus of the capital. Wishing, just a little, that we too were ‘only visiting’.
