Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis referred to the significant contribution of tourism to the European economy, noting at the same time that global tourism has entered a period of intense uncertainty but assessing that the proven resilience of the sector in previous years creates a sense of optimism.
In his address to the 1st session of the Informal Council of EU Tourism Ministers on “The upcoming European Strategy for Sustainable Tourism”, Mr. Koumis stated that the agreed ceasefire brought optimism and rekindled bookings in the affected destinations, “but general uncertainty remains in the global tourism landscape”.
"Despite the negative consequences, the sector's proven resilience in previous years creates a sense of optimism," he pointed out.
Highlighting the importance of tourism for the European economy, Costas Koumis noted that the sector contributes significantly, around 5-10%, to the Union's GDP and supports approximately 25 million jobs, recalling that the tourism sector has shown growth that exceeds pre-pandemic levels.
"The first, and in some cases, huge growth of the sector has brought to the surface new challenges, such as the environmental burden from climate change, changing infrastructure and cases of overtourism in some areas," he said.
However, the Deputy Minister expressed cautious optimism about the course of global tourism, emphasizing the resilience that the sector has demonstrated in recent years, even in periods of successive crises.
Mr. Koumis stressed that the Cyprus Presidency attaches particular importance to tourism, recognizing both its strategic value and its increased exposure to external shocks such as geopolitical instability, climate-related impacts and rapid technological changes.
He added that today's meeting takes place at a crucial moment, as the European Commission prepares to adopt the first EU strategy for sustainable tourism, marking an important step towards a more coordinated, more resilient, but above all, a future-proof tourism policy at EU level.
“The upcoming EU strategy for sustainable tourism is expected to shape a more sustainable, more competitive and inclusive tourism model fully aligned with Europe’s environmental goals, supporting local communities and strengthening the sector’s resilience to the crisis, which is certainly a step forward,” he said.
He also expressed confidence that "the current informal ministerial meeting will provide valuable policy and guidance, contributing substantially to the shaping of this strategy."
The Deputy Minister of Tourism expressed his thanks to European Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas for his presence, to the European Commission, the Member States and the General Secretariat of the Council for their active participation and continuous cooperation in promoting the European agenda for tourism.
Source: KYPE
