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European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Kadis Delivers a Keynote Speech at the European Conference on Sustainable Tourism: Celebrating 20 Years of CSTI Leadership in Sustainability Nicosia, 27 February 2026 Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great honour, and pleasure to be here in Nicosia today, to celebrate with you 20 years of the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative . ...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Kadis Delivers a Keynote Speech at the European Conference on Sustainable Tourism: Celebrating 20 Years of CSTI Leadership in Sustainability Nicosia, 27 February 2026 Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great honour, and pleasure to be here in Nicosia today, to celebrate with you 20 years of the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative . Since 2006, the Initiative promotes eco-friendly tourism, protects the island's unique ecosystems and cultural heritage, supports local communities, reduces the carbon footprint of tourism, and works to align tourism supply with local needs in Cyprus. Let me sincerely congratulate all of you who over the last two decades have been part of this wonderful and impressive journey. It has greatly contributed to making Cyprus a leader in sustainable tourism. Your work, your commitment and your passion are truly appreciated. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders and ensuring that tourism in Cyprus is both economically viable and environmentally responsible, the purpose and endeavours of the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative fit perfectly well with the approach we have taken under the European Ocean Pact. The European Ocean Pact, which I presented together with Commission President von der Leyen at last year's third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, creates coherence across all policy areas linked to the ocean. It defines, for the first time, a single strategic reference framework to better protect the ocean, promote a thriving blue economy and support the well-being of people living in coastal areas. Following the presentation of the Pact last year, we are now working with full speed and commitment on its implementation. This includes a strong and inclusive governance framework, with an “Ocean Act”, which we will present later this year, and which will strengthen and modernise maritime spatial planning as a strategic tool. The Pact's focus on sustainability and integrated ocean governance is crucial for fostering a more sustainable and integrated approach to ocean governance, especially in regions like the Mediterranean where high tourism pressure heightens ecological vulnerability. Tourism sits at the very heart of the European Ocean Pact. Coastal and maritime tourism is the largest sector of the blue economy and a major source of income for many coastal areas, diversifying livelihoods especially in rural coastal and island communities. And tourism showcases what Europe does best. It allows us to promote the extraordinary cultural richness and diversity of our countries and regions. It is one of the strongest bridges for building understanding between peoples. And for many European ocean economies, like Cyprus, coastal and maritime tourism is critically important. Tourism contributes almost 10% of the EU's GDP. This has a profound impact on growth, social development and employment, as tourism and its associated industries create millions of jobs across Europe, including in rural, island and remote regions. But tourism is more than economics, holidays or leisure. As a global phenomenon shaped locally, tourism plays a key role in the development of many European regions, strengthening territorial cohesion and bringing Europe closer together. Our European Ocean Pact aims to enhance the sustainability of coastal and marine tourism by explicitly addressing its role in marine and coastal ecosystems. It promotes stakeholder engagement and aims to mitigate, adapt, and enhance resilience in tourism destinations. One of the key deliverables of the Pact is the first-ever European Strategy for Tourism , which we will present in early May. The Strategy will build on the progress within the Transition Pathway for Tourism and the European Agenda for Tourism 2030 and on the stakeholder consultation launched in May 2025. It will strengthen Europe's global leadership in tourism, balancing economic growth with environmental protection and the wellbeing of local communities. The strategy will focus on four key priorities: 1 . competitiveness and sustainability 2 . labour shortages and the upgrading of workers' skills 3 . data and technology, including artificial intelligence 4 . and Europe as a destination, reinforcing our global leadership. We will also address coastal and maritime regions, recognising their unique vulnerabilities and strengths, and support solutions applicable to islands, coastal zones and maritime destinations, ensuring a strong link with the forthcoming Strategies on Islands and Coastal Communities. And we will pay attention to tackling unbalanced tourism, ensuring that tourism growth respects carrying capacity, biodiversity and marine protection goals. Beyond reducing negative impacts, we know that tourism actually has the potential to improve environmental sustainability, which we will strongly promote. It can contribute to biodiversity restoration, to cultural vitality and resilience of destinations, to fair economies and deeper human connection to the place. Concretely, integrating marine conservation activities into visitor experience is a win-win tourism model: it raises awareness on marine ecosystem, directly contributes to its preservation and brings tourists closer to the coastal communities. Of course, the transition to a more sustainable and innovative tourism model will only succeed if it puts people at its centre. Not only coastal tourism but many other types of destinations face seasonal employment challenges, skills shortages and an aging workforce. This means we must invest in skills and in attracting more young people into tourism-related professions. And that is why we will support quality jobs and strong career pathways, especially for young people. Ladies and gentlemen, We have the knowledge, the technology, the capital, and the will to advance tourism as Europe's largest blue economy sector. Our upcoming strategies will ensure that tourism remains a pillar of Europe's economic and social development, while being environmentally responsible and socially fair. They will strengthen the interface between tourism, maritime ecosystems and local communities. And they will shape Europe's tourism model for the next decade: More sustainability. Greater resilience. Investment in people and in the future. Respect for local communities and their heritage. And a stronger promotion of Europe and the full potential of its destinations. This is how we keep our tourism sector thriving, create new jobs, boost growth, and strengthen the competitiveness of the EU's blue economy. And this is how Europe maintains its leading role in global tourism. I count on your cooperation to succeed in this endeavour! SPEECH/26/502
Speech Brief