The Department of Statistics and Research announces that in July 1998 arrivals of travellers, including excursionists, reached 374.680 recording an increase of 11,2% compared to the corresponding month last year, while departures reached 350.057 recording an increase of 12,1% compared to July 1997.

The majority of travellers, excluding excursionists, arrived in July 1998 on flights or ships which had as country of origin European countries, 84,2% and European Union countries in particular, 69,9%. Looking at individual countries, the United Kingdom is as always leading the list with 37,0% of travellers arrivals followed by Greece with 10,4%, Israel with 8,1%, Russia with 7,3%, Germany with 5,2%, Sweden with 4,1%, Switzerland with 3,7% and Egypt with 3,3%.

The number of excursionists (transit at ports and cruise-ship visitors) in July 1998 reached 9.465 compared to 9.089 in July 1997.

Arrivals of tourists reached 309.983 in July 1998 compared to 275.535 in the corresponding month last year, recording an increase of 12,5%. Of these 44,3% were males and 55,7% were females. The mean age of tourists arriving in Cyprus in July 1998 was 34,6 years. Analysis by country of usual residence shows that 71,2% were residents of the European Union. The main countries are in order of importance the United Kingdom accounting for 44,6% of tourists arrivals, Russia with 10,6%, Germany with 6,2%, Sweden with 5,2%, Switzerland with 4,0%, and Greece with 3,3%.

During July 1998 the majority of tourists 88,9% stated that they intended to stay in hotels or similar establishments, 7,7% with relatives and friends and 3,4% elsewhere.

For those tourists stating duration of stay less than one month, the mean intended duration of stay was 11,5% nights; for those stating less than one year the mean intended duration of stay was 12,7 nights. The mean intended duration of stay for July 1997 was 12,2 and 13,1 nights respectively. The median intended duration of stay was 14,0 nights for July 1998.

In July 1998, 50.614 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad compared to 49.301 in the corresponding month last year. About 43,7% had visited Greece, 14,3% the United Kingdom,5,4% Israel, 5,3% Lebanon and 3,9% Russia A percentage of 64,8% of Cypriots travelling abroad stated that holidays was the main reason for travelling, 17,1% stated business and 13,7% studies.

The mean age for residents of Cyprus returning from a trip abroad in July 1998 was 35,7 years. The majority 40,0% were in the group of 25-44 years, 25,8% in the group 45-64 years and 24,4% in the group of 15-24 years.

Further information can be obtained from the report "Tourism and Travel Statistics, July, 1998, No. 138".