Ammos tou Kambouris beach, one of the eight plastic-free beaches in Cyprus, was visited today (Saturday, March 29) by eight journalists from various European countries, following an invitation by the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Association (CSTI) to visit Cyprus and see all the projects that the Association has carried out to date through its Keep Our Sand & Sea Plastic Free program, which was funded by the non-profit organization TUI Care Foundation.
On the occasion of their visit, the Municipality of Ayia Napa, in collaboration with the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Association, organized a welcoming ceremony, which was attended by the Commissioner for the Environment, Ms. Antonia Theodosiou, the Mayor of Ayia Napa, Mr. Christos Zannetou, the President of ETAP Famagusta, Mr. Giorgos Tofinis, the President of PASYXE Famagusta, Mr. Panikkos Konstantinou and representatives of other organized groups.
In her greeting, Environment Commissioner Antonia Theodosiou expressed her pride in the work that is being done behind the scenes, in communities, municipalities and organizations like CSTI to protect what makes this place so special.
Sustainable tourism for us, he added, “is not just a trend or a framework to note, it is essential, since our economy, our biodiversity and our culture are all deeply connected and we cannot care about one without caring about the others.
“This is why projects like ‘Keep Our Sand and Sea Plastic Free’ delivered in partnership by the TUI Care Foundation and the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Association are so important. It’s not just about picking up plastic but about building a culture of care, for our coasts, our health and the kind of present and future we all want to be a part of.”
“For its part, the government,” said Ms. Theodosiou, “is working to strengthen and coordinate this change,” which is why she noted “the national tourism strategy is being updated up to 2035 with an even greater emphasis on sustainability, climate resilience and the green transition. This includes everything from better beach management, climate adaptation to improving the quality and character of our coastal areas, and also looks at how to develop marine tourism in a responsible way and not just in a profitable way.”
In his greeting, the Mayor of Ayia Napa, Mr. Christos Zannetou, after referring to the consequences and dangers faced by marine life and our coasts from the millions of tons of plastic thrown into the seas, stated that Ayia Napa's initiative on the plastic-free beach is a powerful reminder that we can all make a difference, a call to action to reduce, reuse and recycle and take responsibility for the world in which we live.
"Our commitment," he added, "to protecting the environment is not just about today, it is about creating lasting, positive changes for future generations, and it is encouraging that this change is achievable and this vision can become a reality if each of us puts in our little bit."
He also mentioned that it is through collective action that we can protect these precious spaces for future generations to enjoy, which is why he emphasized that by acting with awareness and respect for the environment, we not only preserve the beauty of our beaches, but also cultivate a culture of responsibility and care that extends beyond the shores.
“Let us work together to make our beaches plastic-free, create a legacy of sustainability and ensure that the beauty of our oceans lasts for years to come,” concluded Mr. Zannettou.
For his part, the President of the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Association (CSTI), Mr. Philippos Drousiotis, stated that the presence of journalists strengthens our mission as your commitment to sustainability helps us realize our vision to make Cyprus a leading sustainable destination in the Mediterranean.
In the spirit of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals, he added, "we are proud of the partnerships that advance these efforts" and as Helen Keller said, "alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."
It is noted that the Municipality of Ayia Napa has two plastic-free beaches, one is Ammos tou Kambouris Beach and the other is Agia Thekla Beach.
