Cyprus tourism will benefit from sustainable practices, minister says

The adoption of circular economy practices by Cypriot hotels is essential for bolstering the competitiveness and resilience of Cyprus’ tourism sector, stated Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis.

Moreover, Koumis also underlined the government’s commitment to building a resilient economy and promoting sustainable development.

Speaking at a networking seminar organised by the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (Oev) in Limassol on Thursday evening, titled ‘Promotion of the Circular Economy in Hotel Units’, Koumis welcomed the participation of 50 hotel businesses in the framework of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

In his address, Koumis highlighted the necessity for targeted investments in the tourism sector, investments crucial for safeguarding the planet and human well-being.

He underscored the need for tourism to remain a robust pillar of the country’s economy and labour market, emphasising the necessity for continuous improvement in its competitiveness.

While actions to protect the environment are ongoing, Koumis stressed the importance of establishing the concept of the circular economy as a conscious approach to sustainable development.

“The transformation from a linear to a circular economy is imperative for our country, which has undertaken commitments alongside other EU member states,” Koumis said.

Referring to the ‘Promotion of the Circular Economy in Hotel Units’ initiative, Koumis explained its goal to enhance the competitiveness and resilience of hotel businesses, fostering the implementation of circular economy practices to adopt a sustainable and resilient business model.

He stressed that integrating the circular economy into hotel facilities is crucial for the sector’s competitiveness and resilience.

Additionally, he noted that the initiative includes practices such as material recycling, energy conservation, and waste reduction.

This approach contributes to both environmental protection and reducing hotel operational expenses, thereby improving the perception of tourist businesses to international guests.

Furthermore, Koumis noted that the main goal of the initiative is to instil the philosophy of the circular economy, aiming to change users’ perspectives on raw material usage while teaching participants to respect the environment and its resources.

Acknowledging the participation of 50 hotel businesses in the initiative, Koumis underlined the significant benefits they would gain from training services, diagnostic evaluations, business guidance, monitoring, and certification.

What is more, he outlined how their involvement would significantly reduce operating costs by decreasing energy consumption, preventing waste generation, and acquiring the necessary tools to create new products and services based on circular practices.

Finally, Koumis noted that these businesses will comply with existing legislative frameworks for implementing the circular economy at both Cypriot and European levels, accessing the Sharing and Exchange Platform, and enabling equipment and facility sharing.