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Tourist season starts positively

16/02/2012 12:53
Indications for tourism are positive in 2012, after a year during which arrivals increased by more than 10%, supporting the Cyprus economy.

According to Cystat, arrivals of tourists reached 47.610 in January 2012 compared to 44.442 in January 2011, recording an increase of 7,1%.

This increase is mostly linked to the German arrivals, which soared 48% to 6.104 from 4.128 last year.

An increase of 4,9% was recorded in tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom (from 15.292 in January 2011 to 16.040 in January 2012) and 237% from Austria (from 358 in January 2011 to 1,205 in January 2012).

Similarly, arrivals from Greece rose 8.1% to 7.879 this year from 7.286 in January 2011.

On the other hand, a decrease of 11,0% was recorded in tourist arrivals from Russia (3.446 in January 2012 compared to 3.873 in January 2011).

Arrivals from Belgium dropped 49% to 542 from 1,062 and those from Romania declined 15% to 973 from 1.150.

Despite positive indications, tourist operators hope that Cyprus will maintain last year's numbers, since crisis in Europe is expected to affect key markets such as the UK.

Things are expected to clear up after April as the first months of each year are not indicative of the rest.