Nicosia, Cyprus. A major European conference on sustainable tourism will take place in Nicosia on Friday, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders and environmental experts. More than 300 participants from Europe and beyond are expected to attend at the Filoxenia conference centre.
Conference organisation and context
The European conference on sustainable tourism is organised by the national tourism initiative (CSTI) and marks 20 years since the organisation’s founding. It is being held under the auspices of Cyprus’ EU council presidency.
Headline speakers
Two European commissioners will headline the event: Apostolos Tzitzikostas, sustainable transport and tourism commissioner, who will deliver the keynote address, and fisheries commissioner Costas Kadis, who will speak on the European oceans’ pact and its relevance to tourism development.
Focus on implementation and challenges
The conference comes as tourism faces challenges from climate change, environmental degradation and infrastructural strain. Organisers said the aim is to move beyond commitments and towards tangible implementation.
CSTI executive chairman Philippos Drousiotis said the conference is intended as “a strategic moment to shape the tourism of tomorrow, one that is more resilient, more responsible and more equitable.”
Programme and additional speakers
The programme includes keynote speeches and two roundtable discussions combining academic, policy and industry perspectives. Among the speakers is Dr Christina Anagnostopoulou of the Aristotle university of Thessaloniki, who is scheduled to address how climate data and seasonal forecasting can be used to strengthen tourism resilience in the Mediterranean.
What outcomes do you want to see from this conference on sustainable tourism?