The importance of finding ways of cooperation to deal with common challenges in the tourism sector, emphasized the Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis, who participated in the 70th Session of the European Commission of the World Tourism Organization in Albania.
As mentioned in a statement by the Deputy Ministry, Mr. Koumis said that the conference showed that the challenges for the tourism sector are endless and in the majority of cases common, as the majority of European countries and by extension the individual destinations face the same challenges. It is important, as he emphasized, both during the conference and in the contacts he had with his counterparts, to find ways of cooperation to address common challenges.
"As a country and as a tourist destination with history and reliable strategic partners we have a duty to ensure high quality of service, which implies repeat visits and multiplier benefits for the economy," he said.
He added that the effort to improve the product and the tourist services provided throughout Cyprus, with a special program in the countryside, will continue unabated, as will the efforts towards cooperation with other European countries facing the same challenges. As he said, building cooperative relations with other European countries is a new challenge for Cypriot tourism.
The topic that was put in the focus of the session was the investments in the tourism sector and the development that the sector brings to the economies of the countries and by extension to the continent.
The Synod is a statutory meeting of the member states of the European Regional Committee of the WTO, and is held annually in the presence of the Secretary General of the Organization.
According to what was presented at the summit, Europe reached 2023% of pre-pandemic levels in 94, the African continent recovered to 96% and the American continent to 90%.
The conference highlighted the new risks that have emerged, such as the ongoing fight against inflation, the energy crisis, labor shortages, unexpected environmental disasters that are unfortunately on the rise, and geopolitical tensions that prevent or slow down the full recovery of the sector.
As mentioned, one of the biggest challenges facing the hospitality industry is dealing with the labor shortage. For this reason, they pointed out that it is important to support training and internship programs for workers in the tourism industry, as well as various forms of employment, including part-time and temporary work.
The need for cooperation was also highlighted, with the aim of digitizing the tourism industry.
The escalating threats of climate change and environmental degradation which undoubtedly pose a threat to tourism were also highlighted at the conference. Therefore, the Agency supports the objectives of the European Green Deal, which aim to transform the EU into a modern and competitive economy, where resources will be properly managed, with the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
In addition to the above, in his speech the Secretary General of the WTO Zurab Pololikashvili presented the Organization's priorities and the corresponding tools that have been created, so that member states can face the above challenges.
In particular, he referred to the development of thematic forms of tourism, mainly rural tourism, and to the Best Tourism Villages initiative, where the Deputy Ministry of Tourism already participates, an institution that aims to develop the tourist flow to the countryside, away from the crowded tourist destinations.
In the context of the conference, the Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis had separate meetings with the Secretary General of UNWTO Tourism Zurab Pololikashvili, his Albanian counterpart Ms. Vilma Bello, his Israeli counterpart Haim Katz as well as the Kazakh Minister of Tourism and Sports Yerkinbayev.
Source: KYPE