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Sustainable Tourism Takes Center Stage Under Cyprus EU Council Presidency

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 2, 2026

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.

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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.

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Cyprus’ Poverty And Social Exclusion Risk Stands At 17.1%

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 20, 2026

Cyprus recorded a poverty or social exclusion risk rate of 17.1% in 2025, below the European Union average of 20.9%, according to new Eurostat figures. Across the bloc, however, more than 92 million people continued to face the risk, highlighting persistent social and economic inequalities.

More Than 92 Million People At Risk Across The EU

A total of 92.7 million people across the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, equivalent to just over one in five residents.

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Cyprus is treated as a single statistical region because of its size, unlike many member states divided into multiple regions for comparison. Its national figure therefore provides an overall picture but does not capture differences between districts or communities.

Regional Gaps Remain Stark Across Europe

The risk varied considerably across the EU, with the highest rates concentrated largely in southern, eastern and outermost regions. In 24 of the 243 regions with available data, at least 31.5% of the population faced poverty or social exclusion.

These regions were located in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France and Romania, as well as Brussels in Belgium and Bremen in north-western Germany.

French Guiana recorded the highest rate, at 54.8%, followed by Calabria in southern Italy at 45.3% and Sicily at 44%. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, recorded 43.7%, while Réunion, another French outermost region, stood at 42.3%.

Central Europe Records The Lowest Rates

At the other end of the scale, 24 regions reported poverty or social exclusion risk rates below 13% in 2025. These included five eastern EU capital regions: Bratislava in Slovakia, Warsaw in Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia.

Other regions with low rates were concentrated in northern Italy, the Czech Republic, northern Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Austria, illustrating the uneven distribution of economic security across Europe.

Cyprus Remains Below The EU Average

Cyprus’ rate of 17.1% places it below the EU average, although it remains higher than the levels recorded in the bloc’s lowest-risk regions.

The figures suggest that Cyprus performs relatively well compared with the wider EU, but poverty and social exclusion remain significant challenges across the bloc, affecting more than 92 million people.