EU member states have approved conclusions at the Competitiveness Council on the Internal Market and Industry concerning sustainable and competitive tourism, Cyprus' Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis said, on Thursday, in Brussels, noting that this move sends “a strong political message on the strategic importance of tourism for the European economy, regional development and social cohesion”.
“The Cyprus Presidency has just concluded the discussions at the COMPET Council in the field of tourism,” the Deputy Minister said, while thanking the European Commission for its active participation, and particularly Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, “for our constructive cooperation throughout the Cyprus Presidency”.
Koumis also expressed particular satisfaction over the delivery of a key commitment of the Cyprus Presidency. “We approved the Council Conclusions on ‘Building a Sustainable and Competitive Tourism for the Future’, sending a strong political message on the strategic importance of tourism for the European economy, regional development and social cohesion,” he noted. According to the Deputy Minister, the conclusions adopted are expected to guide the Commission’s upcoming EU Strategy on Sustainable Tourism and shape the future of the sector across the European continent.
At the same time, an important discussion took place regarding the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on European tourism. “Together with fellow Ministers, we exchanged views on how rising energy costs, supply chain disruptions and growing uncertainty are affecting the tourism sector. The discussion helped identify ways to safeguard the viability and resilience of the tourism sector at European level,” Koumis added.
Concluding, he stressed that today’s session “reaffirmed our shared determination to keep Europe the world’s leading tourist destination, while ensuring that the sector becomes more sustainable, and of course more resilient”.
Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism noted that “the approval of the conclusions constitutes one of the flagship legacies of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the result of its own initiative”.
“Tourism is a key driver of growth, employment and cultural exchange across the EU. Today’s conclusions chart a clear path towards ensuring the long-term resilience and competitiveness of the sector in a rapidly changing environment,” the Deputy Minister of Tourism said following the adoption of the conclusions, according to the press release
The press release added that the conclusions place tourism at the centre of European policymaking for the sector and address balanced tourism development, tackling both over-concentration and under-visitation, while strengthening regional, island, mountainous and remote destinations, as well as year-round and sustainable connectivity, with particular recognition of island member states’ dependence on air connectivity.
It further noted that the conclusions also focus on the twin green and digital transition as drivers of competitiveness and resilience, as well as on skills development and quality jobs in the tourism sector. Finally, the conclusions address resilience and crisis preparedness, along with the multilevel governance of the tourism ecosystem.
