Larnaca's hotel and tourism industry has hailed the decision by major UK tour operators to include the city and district in their programmes for next year, describing the move as an important boost for one of the region's key source markets.
In a statement, the Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company (ETAP Larnaca) expressed satisfaction over what it described as the achievement of a long-standing strategic objective: strengthening the district's presence in the British tourism market.
According to ETAP, the UK's two largest tour operators, TUI UK and Jet2, have moved to include Larnaca prominently in their programmes for the 2027 tourist season.
First for TUI UK, return for Jet2
The organisation said TUI UK will, for the first time, include major hotel units, primarily in Larnaca's tourist area, in its holiday programme.
ETAP described the development as a significant milestone for the destination and for the wider tourism industry of the district.
At the same time, Jet2 is returning to Larnaca after a prolonged absence, launching what tourism officials describe as a particularly strong programme that also includes partnerships with hotels in the area.
The return of Jet2 is viewed by local tourism stakeholders as especially significant given the operator's long absence from the destination.
Winter expansion prospects
According to ETAP, a particularly encouraging aspect of the new arrangements is that, beyond the summer season, there are favourable prospects for the programmes to be expanded into the winter period.
The organisation said Larnaca possesses all the characteristics of a destination capable of operating successfully year-round.
"Larnaca remains vibrant throughout the year, offering visitors a rich range of experiences, cultural events and activities," the statement said.
Result of long-term efforts
ETAP attributed the development to coordinated and sustained efforts by stakeholders to upgrade and strengthen the competitiveness of the destination.
The organisation also thanked the region's hoteliers, saying they had worked tirelessly, with professionalism, persistence and systematic effort, towards achieving the objective of securing greater representation in the programmes of major British tour operators.
Focus on international markets
ETAP said it will continue working closely with local hoteliers to further strengthen Larnaca's presence in international markets and to establish the district as a competitive, year-round tourism destination.
The British market has traditionally been one of Larnaca's largest tourism markets, alongside Israel and Poland.
Tourism stakeholders in the city believe the inclusion of Larnaca in the programmes of both TUI UK and Jet2 is no coincidence. They argue that the decision reflects the growing appeal of the destination and the broad range of cultural, leisure and experiential activities available throughout the year across both the city and the wider district.
