EU tourism ministers meet in Nicosia to discuss new sustainable strategy

On April 17, 2026, EU tourism ministers held an informal meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus, under the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU. The session was chaired by Kostas Koumis, Deputy Minister of Tourism for Cyprus, with the participation of EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas. The primary goal was to develop a unified strategy for sustainable, competitive, and resilient tourism, expected to be presented by the European Commission in the second quarter of 2026. Key themes included addressing imbalanced tourism, connectivity, competitiveness, and global promotion. The tourism sector accounts for 5-10% of the EU's GDP and supports approximately 25 million jobs. While officials noted optimism following a recent ceasefire, they acknowledged ongoing global uncertainty and challenges like climate change, infrastructure strain, and overtourism. Media reports highlighted that the meeting also aimed to bolster the image of Cyprus as a safe travel destination amid regional geopolitical instability.