Nicosia: Travel Expo Cyprus '26 opened its doors amid a climate of cautious optimism for the new tourism season but also concern over the impact of the crisis in the Middle East. At the opening ceremony on Friday, the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Michalis Damianos, stressed the Government's support for Cyprus' tourism product through the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, while travel agents voiced dissatisfaction at the sector's exclusion from state support measures.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Minister said Cyprus remains high on the priority lists of airlines, tour operators and, above all, travellers. Referring to developments in the Middle East, he said the Government continues, with consistency and a strategic approach, to strengthen Cyprus' tourism offering through the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, supporting initiatives that enhance the sector's competitiveness and outward reach. He added that Cyprus was, is and will remain a safe and attractive destination.
This year's exhibition, hosted at the Cyprus State Fair in Nicosia from 17 to 19 April, offers comprehensive information on travel destinations, holiday packages and organised excursions, both abroad and within Cyprus. Through the participation of tour operators, airlines, hotels, resorts and representatives from countries including Greece and Poland, the event also highlights the dynamic and multi-dimensional nature of the tourism industry.
According to a statement from the Association of Cyprus Travel and Tourist Agents (ACTTA), Vice-President Pambos Charalambous said that despite the difficult conditions created by the geopolitical crisis, this year's Travel Expo Cyprus is significantly upgraded, offering detailed information on popular and emerging destinations, a broad range of organised tours and holiday packages at attractive prices, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
Focusing on the impact of the war in the Middle East on Cyprus' tourism, he said the wider regional crisis had already left its mark, particularly affecting the country. Regarding outbound tourism, he noted that trips by Cypriots abroad reached 1.96 million in 2025, an increase of 11.9 per cent compared with the previous year.
He added that the positive trend in tourism continued during the first two months of 2026, with expectations especially high due to Cyprus' Presidency of the Council of Europe. However, he said the war in the Middle East changed the picture, with cancellations of bookings and a freeze on new reservations during what is traditionally the busiest booking period.
'Beyond the immediate operational disruption caused by closed airspace, thousands of flight cancellations and shaken traveller confidence, which may affect bookings even after de-escalation, the duration of the geopolitical unrest is the most decisive factor in avoiding a domino effect across all sectors, not only travel,' he said.
He warned that if the tense situation in the Middle East continued beyond April, conditions would become far more challenging for the economy, particularly tourism, and this would determine the overall impact on the sector. Charalambous expressed 'great surprise and disappointment' that the travel sector had not been included in the Government's plans to support the economy from the consequences of the war.
He also expressed concern over prospects for this year's tourism season and travel activity, saying that timely and co-ordinated state action was required. This should include business support measures, active efforts to preserve Cyprus' image as an attractive destination, effective management of possible disruptions to transport and energy costs, and coherent international communication, he said.
In his own address, Konstantinos Kollias, the Ambassador of Greece to Cyprus, said that Cyprus and Greece are two countries with a significant footprint as tourism destinations in Europe. He noted that more than 600,000 Cypriots visit Greece every year, demonstrating the exceptionally close relationship between the two countries. Expressing optimism for the new tourism season in both countries, he said Cyprus and Greece remain safe destinations and continue to offer high-quality tourism services.