Press Releases

Ammos Kambouri Beach, Ayia Napa

Dear Guests,

It is lovely to have you here in Cyprus. A big thank you to the TUI Care Foundation and the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI) for bringing this group together.

We are proud of what Cyprus has to offer, but more importantly, we are proud of the work happening behind the scenes, in communities, municipalities, and organisations like the CSTI: to protect what makes this place so special. Sustainable tourism, for us, isn’t just a trend or a box to tick. It’s essential. Our economy, our biodiversity, and our culture are all deeply connected, and you can’t care for one without caring for the others.

We want to go further than just preserving what we have. We’re aiming for regenerative tourism. Tourism that gives something back to the land, to local communities, and to the ecosystems that make these experiences possible in the first place.

That’s why projects like “Keep Our Sand and Sea Plastic Free”, delivered in partnership by the TUI Care Foundation and the CSTI, are so important. My Office had the chance to work closely with the CSTI team, and what’s made the biggest impression on me is how many people got involved ‒ volunteers, local groups, businesses, all pitching in. It’s not just about picking up plastic. It’s about building a culture of care for our coasts, our health, and the kind of present and future we all want to be part of.

On the government’s part, we’re working to strengthen and coordinate this shift. Right now, the national tourism strategy is being updated through to 2035 with even more emphasis on sustainability, climate resilience, and the green transition.

That includes everything from better beach management, climate adaptation, to enhancing the quality and character of our coastal areas. It also looks at how to grow marine tourism in a way that’s responsible, not just profitable.

We’re also placing strong focus on awareness around issues like beach waste, because change doesn’t just come from policy; it comes from people. And we’re encouraging nature-based, low-impact tourism that respects ecosystems and that allows visitors to connect with the place more meaningfully.

Cyprus may be small, but we’re fully aligned with the European Union’s (EU) broader vision to make tourism a real driver of sustainability. The EU Green Deal, the Biodiversity Strategy, and the Circular Economy Action Plan are not regulations to merely follow; they actively shape how we think about tourism, land use, and environmental protection.

And of course, we’re also embracing models like agrotourism and other small-scale, low-impact, year-round experiences, especially in rural areas, that help distribute the benefits of tourism more fairly and protect what makes each place unique.

I won’t pretend this kind of transformation is easy. There are still real challenges. But the direction is clear, and the willingness to adapt is growing. And we’re starting to see that progress.

As Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare, a big part of my role is connecting the dots between national strategies and local realities; between policies and people. And I genuinely believe that some of the work being done here in Cyprus can offer valuable ideas beyond our borders.

So, I hope your visit brings not just information, but inspiration. And I hope what you take away isn’t only our country’s natural beauty and hospitality, but the real, ongoing effort to protect it, restore it, and rethink how we relate to the places we love.

Thank you again for being here, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your visit.

(ASP/AS)