The Department of Statistics and Research announces that in November 1998 arrivals of travellers, including excursionists, reached 155.222 recording an increase of 1,8% compared to the corresponding month last year, while departures reached 176.654 recording an increase of 1,6% compared to November 1997.

The majority of travellers, excluding excursionists, arrived in November 1998 on flights or ships which had as country of origin European countries, 84,9% and European Union countries in particular, 73,8%. Looking at individual countries, the United Kingdom is as always leading the list with 36,1% of travellers arrivals followed by Greece with 15,2%, Germany with 11,8%, Israel with 7,2%, Russia with 3,6%, Switzerland with 3,2% and Egypt with 2,8%.

The number of excursionists (transit at ports and cruise-ship visitors) in November 1998 reached 16.919 compared to 14.224 in November 1997.

Arrivals of tourists reached 105.773 in November 1998 compared to 111.110 in the corresponding month last year, recording a decrease of 4,8%. For the period January-November 1998, arrivals of tourists reached 2.139.990 compared to 2.004.268 in the corresponding period last year, recording an increase of 6,8%.

The mean age of tourists arriving in Cyprus in November 1998 was 44,1 years. Of these 48,5% were males and 51,5% were females. Analysis by country of usual residence shows that 81,1% were residents of the European Union. The main countries are in order of importance the United Kingdom with 47,3%, Germany with 16,1%, Russia with 4,7%, Greece with 4,4% and Switzerland with 2,7%.

During November 1998 the majority of tourists 89,9% stated that they intended to stay in hotels or similar establishments, 6,3% with relatives and friends and 3,8% elsewhere.

For those tourists stating duration of stay less than one month, the mean intended duration of stay was 9,5 nights; for those stating less than one year the mean intended duration of stay was 10,3 nights. The mean intended duration of stay for November 1997 was 11,0 and 12,5 nights respectively. The median intended duration of stay was 7,0 nights for November 1998 compared to 12,0 nights in November 1997.

In November 1998, 29.349 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad compared to 23.810 in the corresponding month last year. For the period January-November 1998, 452.301 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad compared to 388.693 in the corresponding period last year, recording an increase of 16,4%.

A percentage of 39,8% of residents of Cyprus travelling abroad in November 1998 had visited Greece, 16,3% the United Kingdom, 9,3% Israel, 2,9% Germany, 2,9% Russia, 2,8% Syria and 2,7% Lebanon. The main reasons for travelling were holidays 59,2% and business 33,6%. Their mean age was 39,4 years. The majority 49,0% were in the group of 25-44 years, 31,5% in the group 45-64 years and 11,0% in the group of 15-24 years.

Further information can be obtained from the report "Tourism and Travel Statistics, November, 1998, No. 142".