North Cyprus Monthly Tourist Arrivals — Latest Official TRNC Data
TRNC welcomed 2,589,729 visitors in 2025 — up 17.2% from 2024's 2,208,855 (which itself was 19.1% above 2023). The full monthly breakdown for both years, the year-over-year shifts, and what the latest data signals for travel planning today.
In 2025, 2,589,729 visitors arrived in North Cyprus — a 17.2% jump over 2024's 2,208,855. That follows 2024's 19.1% jump over 2023. Two consecutive years of double-digit growth, capped by the latest official TRNC Tourism Planning Department data.
Latest data — January–August 2026: Arrivals (excl. TRNC nationals) reached 1,727,648 in the first eight months of 2026, up 6.8% year-on-year — every month from January to August beat the same month of 2025 (TRNC Tourism Planning Department, Ocak–Ağustos 2026 bulletin, published October 2026).
The monthly breakdown is more useful than the annual totals for trip planning. Here is both years side-by-side.
Monthly arrivals, 2024 vs 2025
| Month | Türkiye 2024 | Total 2024 | Türkiye 2025 | Total 2025 | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 118,077 | 136,905 | 158,234 | 177,404 | +29.6% |
| Feb | 143,381 | 170,325 | 154,925 | 178,205 | +4.6% |
| Mar | 117,240 | 149,123 | 134,557 | 165,037 | +10.7% |
| Apr | 140,593 | 166,297 | 171,885 | 199,544 | +20.0% |
| May | 146,600 | 176,229 | 180,093 | 208,921 | +18.6% |
| Jun | 149,918 | 177,725 | 182,327 | 211,270 | +18.9% |
| Jul | 159,828 | 190,395 | 198,773 | 230,374 | +21.0% |
| Aug | 165,351 | 199,130 | 210,459 | 246,656 | +23.9% |
| Sep | 181,820 | 222,175 | 225,112 | 270,429 | +21.7% |
| Oct | 180,219 | 215,712 | 221,430 | 262,239 | +21.6% |
| Nov | 183,489 | 207,448 | 204,051 | 228,436 | +10.1% |
| Dec | 178,636 | 197,391 | 191,474 | 211,214 | +7.0% |
| TOTAL | 1,865,152 | 2,208,855 | 2,233,320 | 2,589,729 | +17.2% |
January–August 2026 — the latest official data
Eight months of 2026 are in, and growth held. Arrivals by air and sea (excluding TRNC nationals) reached 1,727,648 — up 6.8% on January–August 2025's 1,617,411, according to the TRNC Tourism Planning Department.
| Month | Total 2025 | Total 2026 | YoY % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 177,404 | 203,298 | +14.6% |
| Feb | 178,205 | 187,218 | +5.1% |
| Mar | 165,037 | 178,786 | +8.3% |
| Apr | 199,544 | 202,983 | +1.7% |
| May | 208,921 | 223,631 | +7.0% |
| Jun | 211,270 | 220,610 | +4.4% |
| Jul | 230,374 | 252,598 | +9.6% |
| Aug | 246,656 | 258,524 | +4.8% |
| Jan–Aug total | 1,617,411 | 1,727,648 | +6.8% |
Every month from January to August 2026 is the busiest of its calendar month in every year we checked (2018, 2019 and 2023–2025). August 2026 was the year's peak so far at 258,524 — still below September 2025 (270,429), the all-time single-month high in the series. All of the growth came from Türkiye nationals (+8.5% to 1,510,102); the Other-Foreigner segment slipped 3.8% to 217,546, though it turned positive again in July (+7.4%) and August (+3.7%) after a weak spring.
The country mix keeps shifting. Over January–August, Germany is the standout at +31.9% (30,108 visitors), Israel rose 28.5%, the Netherlands 16.3% and Sweden 18.6%, while Russia remains the largest non-Turkish market (32,513, +2.8%). The UK fell 6.7% (14,890), Iran dropped 36.6% and France fell 67.9%. By port, Ercan handled 1,652,941 of the 1,727,648 arrivals — 95.7%; Girne's sea port took 57,607 and Gazimağusa's 16,937.
What the comparison shows
Peak month is firmly September, in both years. 2025 hit 270,429 arrivals in September alone — the highest single month on record. The Türkiye flow stretches into September because Turkish school holidays continue and the weather drops to a more comfortable 27°C. If you want peak Cyprus without peak crowds, September remains the sweet spot.
August grew the most YoY in 2025 (+23.9%). This is the strongest growth of any month and signals the peak-summer band is widening. Hotel occupancy reached 68.5% in August 2025 and edged up to 68.9% in August 2026 — the highest month in the 2025–2026 data. See our hotel-capacity breakdown.
January's +29.6% surge is the standout pre-summer story. Off-season North Cyprus is becoming a real product, not a fallback. February's prior big swing has normalized; underlying winter-traffic base has clearly shifted up.
Türkiye remains the dominant source — 86.2% of 2025 arrivals. Türkiye sent 2,233,320 of the 2,589,729 total (vs 84.4% in 2024). The other 13.8% came from across the world — strongest from Germany, the UK and the wider Europe-Middle East-Asia mix. The Türkiye share is growing, not shrinking, as Ercan direct connectivity continues to expand. See our Ercan routes post for the connectivity context.
Verify the data
The TRNC Tourism Planning Department publishes annual reports at turizmplanlama.gov.ct.tr — both the 2024 and 2025 annuals are public. We mirror the monthly breakdown in our CSV download below.
For broader context — multi-year trajectory + south-side comparison — our North Cyprus Tourism by the Numbers post covers the longer arc. For the cross-border crossing flow that supplements direct arrivals at Ercan + sea ports, see Cyprus Border Crossing Volumes.
What it means for your trip today
- January-March: lowest crowds, but YoY growth is no longer trivial. January 2025 alone hit 177,404 visitors. Off-season is no longer empty.
- April-May: shoulder building. Sea temperature crosses 22°C in mid-May (see climate post).
- June-August: high season — August 2026 reached 258,524 arrivals, above August 2025's 246,656. Hotel occupancy peaked at 68.9%. Book 3-6 weeks ahead.
- September: highest single-month arrivals + still-warm sea (28.0°C). The locals' favourite month.
- October-December: shoulder + winter. October 2025 hit 262,239 (+21.6%). The shoulder season is genuinely strong now.
📊 Download the data: CSV file — open data, CC-BY-4.0 license. Includes both 2024 + 2025 monthly tables side-by-side.
Bottom line
The latest data confirms North Cyprus is in a multi-year tourism growth cycle, not a single-year bounce. September is firmly the peak month. August grew fastest. January surged the largest YoY. The traditional "everyone arrives in July-August" frame has expanded to roughly "every month is now busier than the same month the year before".
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Last updated: October 2026 — now includes official January–August 2026 actuals (bulletin published October 2026); refreshed when the Ministry publishes new data. Sources: TRNC Tourism Planning Department, Tourism Statistics 2024 + 2025 + Ocak–Ağustos 2026.
