International Maritime Organisation Elects 40-Member Council To Shape Global Maritime Governance

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 2, 2025

Overview

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has unveiled its newly elected 40-member Council, underscoring a balanced representation of nations integral to global shipping, trade, and maritime regulation. This decisive move reinforces the IMO’s commitment to fostering international maritime collaboration.

Diverse Maritime Perspectives

The Council remains structured into three distinct categories. Category (a) comprises nations with major interests in international shipping services, including China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Panama, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In parallel, Category (b) brings together key players in global seaborne trade, with Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Arab Emirates at the forefront.

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

Cyprus’s Strategic Position

Positioned within Category (c), Cyprus alongside other nations such as Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, and Türkiye, highlights those States with specific maritime interests. For Cyprus, this election solidifies its status as a prominent flag State and an influential participant in shaping maritime policy. The country’s Deputy Ministry of Shipping has consistently emphasized the critical nature of this representation for advancing priorities in safety, decarbonisation, and seafarer welfare.

Looking Ahead

As the Council prepares to convene for its 136th session on December 4, key decisions, including the selection of its Chair and Vice-Chair for the 2026–2027 biennium, lie ahead. Immediately following the Assembly, the newly elected Council will embark on its inaugural act: the appointment of its Bureau for the forthcoming two-year term, setting the course for continued strategic oversight in global maritime affairs.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 18, 2026

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

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

Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.

Breaking news