Shipping Companies Urged To Prioritise Safety In Strait Of Hormuz

Increasing Concerns Over Seafarer Safety

International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has issued a stark warning: no commercial or operational consideration can justify exposing seafarers to danger. This alert comes as vessels continue to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz without credible security guarantees, despite well-documented risks.

Known Risks Demand Careful Evaluation

Dominguez said shipping companies should carefully assess the risks associated with operating in the area. Recent incidents involving deaths, injuries and detentions of seafarers have highlighted the security challenges facing commercial shipping routes in the region.

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Responsibility And Accountability In Voyage Planning

According to the IMO chief, responsibility for voyage planning and risk assessment ultimately rests with shipowners, operators and vessel masters. He stressed that decisions affecting crews should be based on safety and security considerations and supported by appropriate risk management procedures. Protecting seafarers, he added, must remain a priority when evaluating operational plans.

A Call For Stakeholder Responsibility

In a final appeal, the IMO chief urged all maritime stakeholders to act with the highest levels of responsibility. Every measure must be taken to avoid actions that place innocent civilian seafarers at unnecessary risk. As the industry navigates these challenging conditions, the preservation of life remains the overriding priority.

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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.

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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.

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