The newly-appointed Commissioner for the Environment, Antonia Theodosiou, acknowledged the importance of the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI) and its significance to the tourism industry.

Addressing the 16th Annual General Meeting of the CSTI, Antoniou also expressed concerns about the negative environmental impacts associated with tourism.

The President of CSTI, Filippos Drousiotis, emphasised the shared commitment to sustainability, stating that it was vital for the future of tourism in Cyprus. Drousiotis mentioned the theme of “Tourism and Green Investment” during World Tourism Day, as celebrated by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). It points out the necessity for targeted investment to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

CSTI, established in 2006 as a non-profit non-governmental organisation, aims to make Cyprus the leading sustainable destination in the Mediterranean. The organisation engages stakeholders in the tourism industry to promote sustainability for the benefit of the environment, society, and the economy.

Its goals include sensible preservation of the environment, reduction of carbon footprint, improvement of conditions in disadvantaged communities, promotion of sustainable economic growth, and a focus on research and education.