Sustainable Tourism Takes Center Stage Under Cyprus EU Council Presidency

Sustainable And Resilient Tourism Focus

The Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council has placed sustainable and resilient tourism at the center of its agenda, with a focus on challenges facing Mediterranean destinations. The priorities were discussed at a high-level conference in Nicosia addressing climate action, competitiveness, and long-term tourism strategy in the region.

Strategic Vision Under Cyprus Presidency

Kostas Koumis, Deputy Minister of Tourism, said tourism remains a key priority during the Cyprus Presidency due to its role in economic growth and regional development, particularly for island economies.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Cyprus’s six-month term also provides an opportunity to shape policy direction at the EU level. Current discussions focus on strengthening the sector’s resilience and improving sustainability standards across Mediterranean destinations.

Greece’s Tourism Record And Collaborative Strategy

Greek Deputy Minister of Tourism Anna Karamanli said 2025 was a record year for Greek tourism, with revenues reaching €23.626 billion, up 9.4% compared with 2024. Revenue growth outpaced visitor growth, which officials attribute to higher-value tourism products.

Karamanli described the Eastern Mediterranean as one of Europe’s most dynamic tourism regions, but also one of the most environmentally exposed. Key challenges include seasonality, climate pressure, and marine ecosystem protection. Greece and Cyprus, she said, are aligning strategies around sustainable development.

The planned creation of a Coastal and Marine Tourism Observatory under the World Tourism Organization is intended to strengthen regional cooperation and data sharing.

Environmental Warnings And Call For Collective Action

In a recorded message, King Albert II highlighted environmental risks facing the Mediterranean, describing the region as both heavily visited and environmentally vulnerable.

He warned that further ecosystem degradation could affect both biodiversity and tourism-dependent economies, calling for coordinated action to protect natural resources.

Integrating Climate Action And Circular Economy

Industry representatives said climate action and circular economy principles are becoming central to tourism policy. Dilyor Hakimov, Director of Institutional Relations at UN Tourism, referred to the Glasgow Declaration and the “One Planet” program as frameworks guiding this transition.

Philip Drousis, CEO of the Sustainable Tourism Initiative of Cyprus, noted that tourism accounts for nearly 10% of EU GDP and employment, increasing pressure on the sector to accelerate its green transition as Mediterranean destinations face rising temperatures and water scarcity.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Strengthens Its Case As A European Chess Hub After FIDE President’s Visit

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 20, 2026

Cyprus is sharpening its position on the European chess map, with the island’s rising profile now drawing attention at the highest levels of the sport.

Fide Leadership Backs Cyprus’ Chess Ambitions

International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Timur Turlov, who also leads Freedom Holding Corp and Freedom24, met President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia on Monday to discuss the future of chess development in Cyprus. The talks centered on the island’s growing importance in European chess and the momentum built since Freedom became general partner of the Cyprus Chess Federation in 2023.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

“In three years, Cyprus has become one of Europe’s chess hubs, and we want to keep building on that,” Turlov said. “It was important for us to present our plans for chess on the island to the President, and we are grateful for his time and attention to the game.”

A Broader Strategy For Growth

Turlov was elected FIDE president on September 26 at the federation’s congress in Samarkand. His 2027–2030 programme calls for roughly €30 million in funding over four years to support global chess development, including an annual development fund of €6.2 million, nearly four times the current budget.

The proposed funding is designed to expand competition opportunities, strengthen youth development, improve chess education, support coaches and arbiters, accelerate digital tools, and promote women’s chess.

Cyprus Has Become A Proven Host For Major Events

Since Freedom became the federation’s general partner in 2023, Cyprus has hosted 26 tournaments, including stages of the FIDE Women’s World Grand Prix in Nicosia in 2023 and 2025. The island also welcomed the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which featured a €1 million prize fund and brought top international players to Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort.

For Cyprus, that event carried symbolic weight. It was the first time in the country’s chess history that the world’s leading contenders had competed on the island, underscoring its emergence as a credible destination for elite international chess.

Building A Pipeline For The Next Generation

The local ecosystem is also expanding at the grassroots level. The Freedom24 Chess Academy opened in Limassol on March 1, 2025, under the leadership of International Master Artem Sadovsky. Its mission is to develop competitive players capable of representing Cyprus on the international stage.

According to the Cyprus Chess Federation, around 2,000 people in Cyprus now play chess actively, most of them children. That matters: a sustainable chess economy, like any successful sports ecosystem, depends not only on marquee tournaments but also on a steady pipeline of young talent, coaching infrastructure and institutional support.

As Cyprus continues to invest in the game, it is increasingly positioning itself not just as a host nation, but as a serious contributor to the future of European chess.

Breaking news