1. The Department of Statistics and Research announces that in December 1999 the number of arrivals covering all categories of travellers (including excursionists) reached 127.290 recording an increase of 5,7% compared to the corresponding month last year. For the period January-December 1999 arrivals of travellers reached 3.142.293 compared to 2.871.042 in the corresponding period of 1998, recording an increase of 9,4%.
   
2. Arrivals of tourists reached 84.274 in December 1999 compared to 82.716 in the corresponding month last year, recording an increase of 1,9%. For the period January-December 1999 arrivals of tourists reached 2.434.285 compared to 2.222.706 in the corresponding period of 1998, i.e. an increase of 9,5%.
   
   The main countries of tourist arrivals are the United Kingdom with 46,5%, Greece with 9,7%, Germany with 8,8%, Russia with 4,7%, Israel with 2,2% and Sweden with 2,0%. The overwhelming majority, 76,2% of tourist arrivals was from countries of the European Union.
   
3. In December 1999, 38.289 residents of Cyprus returned from a trip abroad compared to 31.780 in the corresponding month last year. For the period January-December 1999, 540.396 residents returned from a trip abroad compared to 484.082 in the corresponding period last year recording an increase of 11,6%.
4. In December 1999 the number of same-day visitors reached 2.952 of which 1.008 were same-day tourists and 1.944 excursionists. Long-term immigrants numbered 483 and short-term immigrants 1.290.

Further information can be obtained from the report "Tourism and Travel Statistics, December 1999, No. 155".