The Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU will build upon the European Tourism Agenda 2030 and explore prospects for new horizons in this sector, President Nikos Christodoulides told the 91st HOTREC General Assembly (Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafés of Europe), which is being hosted by the Cyprus Hotels Association (CHA) from 15 to 17 October 2025 in Paphos.
Tourism remains the cornerstone of the Cypriot economy, contributing more than 13% to the country’s GDP and directly and indirectly employing 120,000 people, the President pointed out.
He added: “As a Government, we are committed to continuing our efforts, both at the national and European levels, to develop a robust tourism policy based on HOTREC’s priorities.”
Together with its partners in the tourism industry, including CHA, the Government is investing in resilience, quality, and sustainability of the tourism ecosystem, said Christodoulides, adding that these efforts have already borne fruit: in 2024, Cyprus welcomed more than four million visitors, generating €3 billion in revenue, while in 2025 a new record in arrivals is expected.
He also referred to Government policies that affect the tourism sector, including measures to address the impacts of climate change, investment in green growth and digital transformation, responses to labour market challenges, and training and upskilling of the workforce, among others.
Referring to Cyprus’ upcoming assumption of the EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2026, the President stated: “We are determined to seize this opportunity, with ambition and confidence, to build upon the European Tourism Agenda 2030 and explore ways to open new horizons for tourism.”
Another positive to come from Cyprus' EU Presidency, he said, is that the new EU Tourism Strategy will be presented and translated into concrete actions during that time.
Finally, the President noted that the appointment of an EU Commissioner for Tourism for the first time demonstrates that the European Union is expanding its horizons, and he praised the work of Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas.
