Cyprus and Greece must focus on sustainability to enhance their tourism offerings, according to Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis.
Speaking at the 2nd Cyprus-Greece Business Forum on Wednesday, Koumis underlined the importance of tourism for both countries, saying that their natural beauty is a cornerstone of their appeal.
“The tourism sector is a major pillar for both economies,” Koumis said.
“In 2023, tourism contributed over 19 per cent of Greece’s GDP and 12.9 per cent of Cyprus’s GDP, with projections for Cyprus reaching 13.5 per cent in 2024,” he added..
Discussing similarities between the two destinations, Koumis said that both rely heavily on “sun and sea” tourism.
“We are hospitable peoples, sharing common elements of history and mythology, which both countries strive to promote,” he stated.
One key challenge both nations face is seasonality.
“Demand during winter is far lower compared to summer,” he said.
“For example, outbound travel from the United Kingdom drops by 40 per cent in winter,” Koumis explained.
In addition, he stressed the importance of maintaining operations year-round, outlining government initiatives aimed at addressing this issue.
The Cypriot government, Koumis continued, has introduced incentive plans to boost off-season activity.
“We are encouraging the organisation of sports and cultural events during the winter to breathe life into destinations,” he said.
Additionally, a Labour Ministry initiative aims to keep businesses open during the low season.
“We are supporting jobs rather than unemployment,” the minister said.
“The goal is to keep destinations alive,” he added, noting that November 2025 remains a key milestone.
Furthermore, Koumis highlighted recent progress in extending the tourist season.
“We have won October; it’s no different from the summer months,” he said.
“This year, October was the best ever,” he added.
He mentioned that some weeks in November and March have also shown improvement, with Paphos leading the way as a nearly year-round destination thanks to its diversified offerings.
On the topic of air connectivity, Koumis said that Cyprus operates two international airports, compared to Greece’s 15.
“Cyprus has routes from 55 airlines,” he said.
“Our goal was to restore and even increase flight frequency post-pandemic, and we’ve achieved that,” he added.
He mentioned that Cyprus was recently awarded the title of Global Destination of the Year at the World Aviation Conference in Bahrain.
However, direct flights from China and the United States remain absent.
“The population dynamics of Cyprus do not support significant outbound tourism to these regions,” Koumis acknowledged.
He expressed optimism about a potential direct connection with India by 2026, contingent on airlines acquiring new aircraft as planned.
Addressing source markets, Koumis pointed out that the UK remains Cyprus’ largest market, with Israel now the second.
“Russia and the emerging Ukrainian market were lost, but the gap has been filled by growth in markets like Poland and other European countries,” he said.
Both countries share a reliance on coastal tourism, which Koumis noted as a comparative advantage.
He commended Greece’s initiative to establish a coastal and marine tourism observatory, which aims to protect Mediterranean coasts.
“The number of beaches facing erosion is significant,” he said
“A holistic approach is essential, and Cyprus fully supports this initiative,” the minister added.
What is more, Koumis stressed that the greatest challenge for both nations is maintaining tourism growth while respecting the environment and sustainability principles.
“Tourism depends on the natural beauty of our countries,” he stated.
“We cannot move forward without respecting sustainability,” he concluded.
