NICOSIA: Cyprus recorded a 17.4-percent jump in key tourism revenue in September, the Mediterranean island’s highest percentage rise for 17 months, official data showed.

The eurozone member is benefiting from an upsurge in arrivals from Britain, Germany, Greece and Israel — countries that have traditionally provided the bulk of its tourists.

Income from the vital sector reached 321.1 million euros ($339.7 million) in September, compared with 273.4 million euros in the same month last year.

This represented the biggest rise since April 2014, when the increase was 20.4 percent.

For the nine months to September, revenues rose 3.2 percent on year to 1.75 billion euros.

The state-run Cyprus Tourism organization said the island had made a “dynamic turnaround” after a bad start to the year when five of the first six months saw revenue declines.

The average daily amount spent by tourists in September was 88.71 euros, while the average length of stay was 10 days.

Israelis were the biggest spenders in September, at an average 142.98 a day, while Greeks were the most frugal at 39.36 euros.

Following a 10-billion-euro rescue package to save a crumbling economy and insolvent banks in March 2013, Cyprus is expected to return to growth this year after three years’ of harsh recession.

Holidaymakers hit a record high of 2.69 million visitors in 2001 spending a record 2.17 billion euros.

Income from tourism accounts for about 12 percent of Cyprus’ gross domestic product and is credited for it avoiding a double-digit recession.