As Cyprus prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in January 2026, we are determined to seize the opportunity to build on the European Agenda for Tourism 2030 but also explore new frontiers in tourism, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday.

Addressing the 91st HOTREC General Assembly that took place in the coastal town of Paphos, the Persident said that during the Cyprus Presidency the new European Tourism Strategy will be presented, discussed and translated into concrete action.

Referring to Cyprus tourism, he said that it remains a cornerstone of Cyprus’ economy, contributing over 13% of the country’s GDP and supporting nearly 120,000 direct and indirect jobs.

He recalled that in 2024, Cyprus welcomed over four million visitors, generating more than three billion euro in tourism revenue.

“And early projections for 2025 indicate yet another record-setting year. Furthermore, according to the Aviation Council International, Cyprus ranks second among European countries in the improvement of air connectivity compared to the year 2019,” he said.

These results, President Christodoulides noted, reflect strategic planning and collaboration across government, industry, and local communities.