Cyprus recorded the biggest drop in tourist overnight stays anywhere in the European Union during the first half of 2026, even as tourism across the bloc continued to increase.
The number of nights spent in Cyprus tourist accommodation fell by 7.7% compared with the same six months last year, according to Eurostat figures released on Tuesday.
Romania recorded the second-largest decline at 6.7%. Meanwhile, overnight stays rose sharply in Ireland by 14.6%, Malta by 9.9% and Slovakia by 5.9%.
The figures are particularly striking because Cyprus remains one of Europe’s most foreign-dependent tourism markets. Visitors from abroad accounted for 92.6% of all nights booked in hotels and other tourist accommodation, second only to Malta, where the share reached 95.2%.
That means local tourism provides only a small safety net when demand from overseas weakens.
