A plan promoting the circular economy in hotels and tourist accommodations for the period 2026–2029 is being reimplemented, following a proposal by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, which was recently approved by the Cabinet.
As stated in a press release issued by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the project’s goal is to enhance the circular economy in the hotel sector through the adoption of sustainable business practices, the more efficient use of natural resources, the reduction of waste generation, and the enhancement of the competitiveness of tourism businesses.
In this context, specialised consulting services will be provided to hotel businesses and tourist accommodations, with the aim of implementing circular economy measures and certifying them in accordance with the Circular Economy Certification Scheme of the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB). At the same time, training initiatives, research, the development of best-practice guides, and the dissemination of knowledge will be carried out for the benefit of the entire tourism industry.
The project constitutes a continuation of the corresponding measure implemented under the Recovery and Resilience Plan and is the result of collaboration between the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the Federation of Employers and Industrialists, which also serves as the implementing body, the press release said.
During the first phase of the project, a total of 19 hotel businesses received circular economy certification. According to the press release, in a statement, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, noted that “this is an exceptional collaboration between the public and private sectors that we, as a government, believe is worth continuing.”
He also stated that the implementation of the second phase “is expected to contribute even further to the broader effort to enhance the quality and competitiveness of the Cypriot tourism product,” while thanking OEB for what he described as their excellent cooperation.
On behalf of OEB, its President George Pantelides stated that “the excellent cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism continues, with the aim of expanding the implementation of circular economy principles in the hotel sector and strengthening the momentum of our country’s green transition, thereby enhancing the competitive advantages of the Cypriot tourism product.”
(Source: CNA)
