Europe’s sustainable tourism conference comes to Nicosia

A major European conference on sustainable tourism will take place in Nicosia on Friday, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and environmental experts.

The European conference on sustainable tourism, organised by the national tourism initiative (CSTI), marks 20 years since the organisation’s founding and is being held under the auspices of Cyprus’ EU council presidency.

More than 300 participants from Europe and beyond are expected to attend at the Filoxenia conference centre.

Two European commissioners will headline the event, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, sustainable transport and tourism commissioner, who will deliver the keynote address, joined by fisheries commissioner, Costas Kadis, who will speak on the European oceans’ pact and its relevance to tourism development.

The conference comes at a critical juncture when tourism faces growing challenges from climate change, environmental degradation and infrastructural strain.

Organisers say the aim is to move beyond commitments and towards tangible implementation.

“This conference is not just a celebration of the past,” said CSTI’s executive chairman Philippos Drousiotis.

“It is a strategic moment to shape the tourism of tomorrow, one that is more resilient, more responsible and more equitable.”

The programme reflects that emphasis, with academic, policy and industry perspectives brought together through keynote speeches and two roundtable discussions.

Among the speakers is Dr Christina Anagnostopoulou of the Aristotle university of Thessaloniki, who will address how climate data and seasonal forecasting can be used to strengthen tourism resilience in the Mediterranean.

Her contribution comes as southern European destinations grapple with increasingly volatile weather and prolonged heatwaves.

The Travel Foundation chief executive, Jeremy Sampson and a co-author of the Glasgow declaration on climate action in tourism, will speak on the structural changes required within the industry.

His address will focus on what he describes as “the imperative and the opportunity to transform tourism for good”.

Industrial initiatives will also feature, including a presentation by Helen Caron of the TUI care foundation on plastic reduction programmes in Cyprus and Greece.

At the centre of the conference are two roundtable discussions examining how sustainability goals translate into practice.

The first will explore tourism resilience across local, Mediterranean and European levels.

The second will focus on cooperation between the public and private sector towards this end.

Participants in the discussions include deputy tourism minister Kostas Koumis, Greece’s deputy tourism minister, Anna Karamanli, senior representatives of local government, the tourism industry and international organisations.

Representatives from UN Tourism, the IUCN European regional office, easyJet holidays and Hermes airports are among those expected to contribute.

Founded in 2006, CSTI has positioned itself as a bridge between government, business and civil society.

Over the past two decades, it has worked with organisations including UN Tourism, UNEP, IUCN and the Prince Albert II of Monaco foundation on projects linking environmental protection with economic viability.

The conference takes place on Friday at the Filoxenia conference centre, with proceedings conducted in Greek and English and simultaneous interpretation provided.