Tourism booking cancellations have increased in Cyprus due to the war in Iran, while Greece and Turkey are affected to a lesser extent, according to a report by Reuters.
The United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, just as Cyprus’s tourism sector was beginning to reopen after the winter season.
Then, on March 2, as Iran launched a series of counterattacks, a drone struck a British naval base on the island, triggering a wave of tourism booking cancellations.
The Cyprus Hoteliers Association reported a 40% drop in bookings for March and April, while daily cancellations in short-term rentals rose from around 15% before the conflict to as high as 100% in the following days.
Aegean Airlines has recorded a double-digit decline in bookings from Israel and Gulf countries, while demand is shifting toward the western Mediterranean.
The cancellation rate now stands at around 45%, with Greece and Turkey also recording smaller increases.
The Central Bank of Cyprus lowered its 2026 economic growth forecast to 2.7%, down from 3.0%, based on the assumption that the war will last approximately two months.
Low-cost airlines such as easyJet and Jet2 report reduced demand for Cyprus and Turkey, with demand shifting toward destinations in the western Mediterranean, such as Spain.
Aegean Airlines has also recorded a double-digit drop in summer bookings from Israel and Gulf countries, while according to Giorgos Vernikos of SETE there is a slowdown in early bookings.
Source: Reuters
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