The number of tourists in Cyprus nosedived 15.2 per cent in the first quarter of this year, official figures showed.

Arrivals in the three months to March sank to 194,127 people from 228,962 in the same period a year earlier, indicating that this year could be a bad year for the vital tourism sector, which together with construction contributes a mighty 30 per cent to Cyprus's GDP.

In March alone, the year-on-year decline accelerated to 16.4 per cent as only 90,434 holidaymakers checked in, down from 108,164 in March of last year.

The number arriving from Britain, the Mediterranean island's biggest market, plummeted 26.9 per cent, while 11.6 per cent fewer people came in from Greece.

By contrast, there was a 25.1 per cent spike in holidaymakers from Germany, reaching 12,812 last month.

Cypriots themselves are feeling the pinch with an 8.4 per cent decrease in residents travelling abroad in February.

For the upcoming summer season, hotel bookings are said to be around 25 per cent down. The government is officially forecasting a 10 per cent decline in tourist arrivals for this year.

It has approved more than €350 million in stimulus measures to stave off job losses in tourism and construction.

The European Commission estimates growth in Cyprus will be closer to one per cent.