The Department of Statistics and Research announces that in June 1998 arrivals of travellers, including excursionists, reached 302.931 recording an increase of 14,5% compared to the corresponding month last year, while departures reached 297.354 recording an increase of 16,1% compared to June 1997.

The majority of travellers, excluding excursionists, arrived in June 1998 on flights or ships which had as country of origin European countries, 85,6% and European Union countries in particular, 67,8%. Looking at individual countries, the United Kingdom is as always leading the list with 37,9% of travellers arrivals followed by Greece with 8,4%, Israel with 8,4%, Russia with 8,1%, Sweden with 5,8%, Germany with 5,3% and Switzerland with 3,7%.

The number of excursionists (transit at ports and cruise-ship visitors) in June 1998 reached 8.853 compared to 8.352 in June 1997.

Arrivals of tourists reached 248.426 in June 1998 compared with 242.833 in the previous month. Of these 44,5% were males and 55,5% were females. The mean age of tourists arriving in Cyprus in June 1998 was 37,6 years. Analysis by country of usual residence shows that 73,7% were residents of the European Union. The main countries are in order of importance the United Kingdom accounting for 45,7% of tourists arrivals, Russia with 10,8%, Sweden with 7,0%, Germany with 6,8%, Switzerland with 3,7%, Norway with 2,6% Denmark with 2,5% and Greece with 2,5%.

During June 1998 the majority of tourists 92,3% stated that they intended to stay in hotels or similar establishments, 5,4% with relatives and friends and 2,3% elsewhere.

For those tourists stating duration of stay less than one month, the mean intended duration of stay was 10,6% nights; for those stating less than one year the mean intended duration of stay was 11,6 nights. The median intended duration of stay was 13,0 nights.

In June 1998, 40.138 residents of Cyprus returned from a travel abroad compared with 31.442 in the previous month. About 32,0% had visited Greece, 17,5% the United Kingdom, 9,6% Israel, 5,9% Russia and 5,6% Lebanon. A percentage of 49,9% of Cypriots travelling abroad stated that holidays was the main reason for travelling, 27,7% stated business and 18,5% studies.

The mean age for residents of Cyprus returning from a trip abroad in June 1998 was 37,9 years. The majority 38,9% were in the group of 25-44 years, 30,0% in the group 45-64 years and 23,2% in the group of 15-24 years.

Further information can be obtained from the report "Tourism and Travel Statistics, June, 1998, No. 137".