The Department of Statistics and Research announces that in October 1998 arrivals of travellers, including excursionists, reached 290.411 recording an increase of 8,9% compared to the corresponding month last year, while departures reached 325.482 recording an increase of 7,6% compared to October 1997.

The majority of travellers, excluding excursionists, arrived in October 1998 on flights or ships which had as country of origin European countries, 86,1% and European Union countries in particular, 70,3%. Looking at individual countries, the United Kingdom is as always leading the list with 37,8% of travellers arrivals followed by Greece with 9.3%, Germany with 8.5%, Israel with 7,3%, Switzerland with 5,9%, Sweden with 4,9%, Egypt with 3,4% and Russia with 3,1%.

The number of excursionists (transit at ports and cruise-ship visitors) in October 1998 reached 18.100 compared to 9.921 in October 1997.

Arrivals of tourists reached 228.881 in October 1998 compared to 224.371 in the corresponding month last year, recording an increase of 2,0%. Of these 49,4% were males and 50,6% were females. The mean age of tourists arriving in Cyprus in October 1998 was 39,7 years. Analysis by country of usual residence shows that 77,9% were residents of the European Union. The main countries are in order of importance the United Kingdom with 46,5%, Germany with 11,3%, Sweden with 6,5%, Switzerland with 6,4% and Russia with 3,8%.

During October 1998 the majority of tourists 93,3% stated that they intended to stay in hotels or similar establishments, 4,0% with relatives and friends and 2,7% elsewhere.

For those tourists stating duration of stay less than one month, the mean intended duration of stay was 9,7 nights; for those stating less than one year the mean intended duration of stay was 10,2 nights. The mean intended duration of stay for October 1997 was 10,5 and 11,3 respectively. The median intended duration of stay was 7,0 nights for October 1998 compared to 10,0 nights in October 1997.

In October 1998, 39.406 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad compared to 28.703 in the corresponding month last year. About 39,1% had visited Greece, 13,2% the United Kingdom, 12,6% Israel, and 4,1% Egypt. A percentage of 66,6% of Cypriots travelling abroad stated that holidays was the main reason for travelling, 24,8% stated business and 3,9% studies.

The mean age for residents of Cyprus returning from a trip abroad in October 1998 was 39,1 years. The majority 48,2% were in the group of 25-44 years, 31,3% in the group 45-64 years and 11,1% in the group of 15-24 years.

Further information can be obtained from the report "Tourism and Travel Statistics, October, 1998, No. 141".