The Department of Statistics and Research announces that in February 1999 arrivals of travellers, including excursionists, reached 108.529 recording an increase of 3,0% compared to the corresponding month last year. For the period January-February 1999 arrivals of travellers, including excursionists, reached 205.743 compared to 202.445 in the corresponding period last year, recording an increase of 1,6%.

The number of excursionists (transit at ports and cruise-ship visitors) in February 1999 reached 2.432 compared to 2.439 in February 1998.

Arrivals of tourists reached 74.041 in February 1999 compared to 71.634 in the corresponding month last year, recording an increase of 3,4%. For the period January-February 1999 arrivals of tourists reached 131.781 compared to 125.926 in the corresponding period last year, recording an increase of 4,6%.

Analysis of tourists arrivals in February 1999 by country of usual residence shows that 81,2% were residents of the European Union. The main countries are in order of importance the United Kingdom with 51,9%, Germany with 12,9%, Greece with 4,8%, Russia with 4,0% and Switzerland with 2,4%.

In February 1999, 30.033 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad compared to 28.531 in the corresponding month last year. For the period January-February 1999, 64.140 residents returned from a trip abroad compared to 63.024 in the corresponding period last year recording an increase 1,8%.

In February 1999, 405 persons came to settle in Cyprus, while arrivals of short-term immigrants totalled 1.082 persons and 534 were same-day tourists.

Further information can be obtained from the report "Tourism and Travel Statistics, February 1999, No. 145".