Cyprus to make sustainable tourism a priority for EU presidency, says minister

Sustainable and resilient tourism will be a key priority of the EU council presidency, Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis said on Friday, addressing a European conference in Nicosia on climate action and competitiveness in Mediterranean destinations.

Addressing delegates, Koumis said tourism reflects its “strategic importance for economic growth, social cohesion and regional development, particularly for Mediterranean and island destinations”.

He described Cyprus’ six-month term as coming at a “historic moment” for the bloc, not only for coordinating legislation, but also for shaping longer-term political direction.

“Our Presidency places particular emphasis on strengthening the resilience and sustainability of the tourism sector,” he said, adding that climate action, environmental protection and balanced, inclusive development across Europe would form the core of the agenda.

He pointed to structural weaknesses including seasonality, destination management and pressures on cultural and natural heritage, arguing that fragmented responses are no longer sufficient. At the centre of the strategy lies the “twin transition”, green and digital.

“By promoting the dual transition, green and digital, we seek to shape a tourism ecosystem that is resilient, innovative and capable of delivering long-term value,” Koumis said.

He linked the presidency’s priorities to the Cyprus Tourism Strategy 2035, noting that targeted grant schemes under the recovery and resilience plan (RRP) are supporting upgrades to rural accommodation, the modernisation of catering businesses and the development of experiential tourism offerings.

The regional perspective was reinforced by Greece’s deputy tourism minister Anna Karamanli, who said 2025 was the strongest year on record for Greek tourism, with revenues reaching €23.626 billion, up 9.4 per cent from 2024.

Revenue growth outpaced the 5.6 per cent rise in arrivals, “a clear indication of the qualitative upgrade of the Greek tourism product”, she said.

Karamanli described the Eastern Mediterranean as one of Europe’s most dynamic tourism regions, but also one of heightened environmental sensitivity.

Climate pressures, marine ecosystem protection and persistent seasonality, she said, require coordinated responses at regional level.

“For Greece and Cyprus, sustainable tourism development is a common strategic priority,” she said, noting that the two countries are linked not only by historical and cultural ties but also “by a common responsibility” as island and coastal EU member states.

She referred to the establishment of a Coastal and Marine Tourism Observatory in the Eastern Mediterranean, under the auspices of the World Tourism Organisation, as a Greek-led initiative with Cyprus’ participation aimed at strengthening monitoring and policy alignment.

Greece, she added, is advancing a new special spatial planning framework for tourism, monitoring sustainability indicators through national and regional observatories, investing in infrastructure to reduce environmental impact and operating a hotel classification system based on environmental performance.

“We are not simply seeking more visitors. Our goal is a development that does not exhaust destinations, but strengthens them,” she said.

In a recorded message, Prince Albert II of Monaco warned that the Mediterranean, while among the most visited regions in the world, is also one of the most vulnerable.

“Tourism is neither a passing trend nor a luxury. It is a major phenomenon in our society,” he said, calling it a global force with tangible economic, cultural and environmental consequences.

He noted that the Mediterranean concentrates both exceptional biodiversity and intense visitor flows, welcoming hundreds of millions of tourists annually.

The degradation of this balance, he cautioned, would endanger ecosystems in the short term and undermine tourism-dependent economies in the longer term.

“It is essential that everyone takes responsibility. Because only in this way will we be able to protect our environment, our planet and our future in a sustainable way,” he concluded.

UN Tourism director of institutional relations Dilyor Khakimov said climate action and the circular economy must become structural pillars of tourism policy across Europe and beyond.

“Sustainability, competitiveness and long-term resilience today go hand in hand,” he said, noting that tourism is increasingly exposed to climate risks, yet can contribute to solutions through decarbonisation and adaptation.

He referred to the Glasgow Declaration and the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme as frameworks that integrate tourism into broader climate policy, stressing that embedding circular economy principles is essential to reduce resource use, limit waste and enhance destination resilience.

Philippos Drousiotis, executive chairman of the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative, said tourism should lead Europe’s green transition.

As a sector representing nearly 10 per cent of EU GDP and employment, he said, tourism carries significant responsibility to cut carbon intensity, preserve biodiversity and ensure growth remains inclusive and equitable.

For Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean, he warned, rising temperatures, water scarcity and biodiversity pressures are not theoretical risks but present realities, reinforcing the urgency of coordinated European action under the Cyprus Presidency.