Improved tourism arrivals have also triggered  a jump in income from holidaymakers with February’s revenue spiking at 8.8% on last year.

According of official data, revenue from tourism reached euro36.9m in February, compared to euro33.9m in the same month of 2010.

Nevertheless, tourism income  for February is still down  9.2% on 2008 levels.

However, receipts for the first two months of the year are in positive territory increasing by 4.9% to reach euro66.7m from euro66.7m in January-February 2010.

Income from tourism accounts for 12% of Cyprus’s gross domestic products.

The average daily amount spent by tourists in February was euro63.3 and the average stay was 9.4 days. Swiss were the biggest spenders at an average euro116.5 a day , while Swedes were the most frugal spending just euro38.6.

Cyprus tourism revenue in 2010 improved 3,8% on a year earlier; boosting confidence the key sector can consolidate the island’s fledgling economic recovery.

Revenue for 2010 reached euro1.54b compared with euro1.49b for 2009.

It dropped in 2009 from euro1.79b in 2008 and euro1.85b in 2007. Holidaymakers to Cyprus hit a high of 2.69 million in 2011 spending a record euro2.17b. banking on improved tourism income the government predicts the economy will grow by around 1.5% in 2011 after kicking off an unprecedented year-long recession in 2009.

GDP growth last year reached an unexpected 1% after the economy reversed 1.7%.

Cyprus is trying to reduce a fiscal deficit that was almost double the EU’s permitted ceiling of 3% last year.

The government has raised taxes and cut spending in efforts to bring the deficit below 4% this year as mandated by Brussels.

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