The economic recession in many European countries, foreign exchange fluctuations and the high accommodation rate which were initially given by the hoteliers compared to 1992 and to other competitive destinations resulted in a tourism flow of 1,841,000 tourists in 1993 as against 1,991,000 in 1992. In 1993 the average expenditure per tourist increased by 8% as compared to 1992 (Cyprus Pounds 379,60 in 1993 and Cyprus Pounds 351,65 in 1992), and receipts from tourism reached Cyprus Pounds 696 million in 1993 compared to Cyprus Pounds 694 million in the previous year.

The growing tourism sector now employs some 35,000 people directly involved in the industry representing 13,2% of the gainfully employed population.

The island's bed capacity has increased from 10,796 in 1973 to 73,657 by the end of December 1993 - no mean achievement, considering the Turkish occupation of 1974 and the occupation of the harbourside town of Kyrenia and the principal resort of Ammochostos (Famagusta) which meant a considerable drop in bed capacity.

Source: www.kypros.org