“It is with great pleasure and honour that I welcome you to the 26th International Tourism Exhibition Travel Expo Cyprus, an event that has become an institution for the tourism industry of our country, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the organisers of the exhibition, the Cyprus Association of Travel and Tourism Agents and the Display Art Plc Group of Companies.

The Deputy Ministry of Tourism recognises and underlines the strategic importance of tourism exhibitions not only as platforms for professional networking and destination promotion, but also as valuable tools for informing and empowering the traveller himself. Through personal contact with tourism professionals, participants can form a more complete picture of the options available to them, compare quality features and organise their trip with authenticity, quality and safety in mind.

I would like to warmly welcome all participants, exhibitors and visitors from abroad, wishing everyone a successful and productive participation.

As every year, the exhibition is attended by travel agents, airlines, cruise organisers, hotels, tourist resorts, geographical regions and, of course, delegations from foreign countries.

The Hellenic Tourism Organization, the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the Municipality of Alexandroupolis and the Municipality of Kastoria are participating with us, showcasing the unparalleled wealth of Greek nature and cultural heritage.  

At the same time, we welcome the significant presence of representatives from exotic destinations, such as India, Cuba and the Maldives, as well as from countries in Northern and Central Europe – Sweden, Finland, Slovakia and Poland.

The presence of all these destinations proves that tourism is a bridge of friendship, cooperation and creation.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is now clear that travel trends and preferences have significantly diversified worldwide, with admittedly growing interest in destinations that offer authentic experiences, high levels of quality and safety, that invest in special forms of tourism and certainly that operate and develop with a focus on sustainable tourism development.

As the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, fully aware of the data of international competition, we plan and implement actions aimed at focusing our country's tourism ecosystem on sustainable development, we invest in the promotion of authentic Cypriot hospitality and our hinterland with the ultimate aim of strengthening or highlighting lesser-known areas/destinations, highlighting the comparative advantages of our country, and we certainly aim to further strengthen and highlight special forms of tourism.

It is with particular satisfaction that we observe not only our country's tourism recording remarkable performances, but also those forms that were called, in the not too distant past, ‘alternative forms of tourism’ recording remarkable performances.

We therefore welcome with satisfaction the rise of agrotourism, which has recorded an increase of 14 percent over a two-year period, the sharp rise in sports tourism – which in the last twelve months alone has recorded, through the subsidy schemes of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, a visit by over 25,000 people to our island for the purpose of participating in sports events or training – the increase in interest in wine tourism and walking tourism, and many more. These are actions that undoubtedly contribute to the effort to lengthen the tourist season, which we hope will lead us to the timeless vision of transforming our country into a year-round destination.

Ladies and gentlemen, tourism has long been the main pillar of the Cypriot economy and at the same time a window of extroversion and cultural exchange. The modern traveller is not just looking for a destination and a few days of rest. The modern traveller is not just looking for sun and sea. He is looking for quality, safety, authentic moments of traditional hospitality. He is looking for and rewarding destinations that respect the environment.

Cyprus, our country, offers all of this, and is investing even further.

Ladies and gentlemen, 2025 has started with good omens for our country's tourism. The results so far, the results of the first quarter of the year, record an increase of 7.5 percent and allow us to be optimistic and hope for a good and productive tourism year, worthy of the previous year which, as is well known, was marked by a double record in arrivals and revenues.

In recent weeks, following international developments, and I am referring mainly to the new tariff policy of the United States of America (US), it has simply been confirmed that tourism will always be sensitive and dependent on international developments, both economic and geopolitical in nature.

Despite the uncertainty that has just overwhelmed the global economy, we remain optimistic that this year too we will manage to have a successful tourism year, beneficial for tourism businesses and local communities.

However, it is imperative that we invest in the long-term development of our country's tourism in terms of sustainability. This is perhaps the biggest challenge for the coming years.

Our collective responsibility is to work harmoniously to diversify our tourism product, public and private sectors, investing in the green transition, collaborating with local Authorities to improve destinations, and all together to invest in highlighting the comparative advantages of our country, remembering that tourism success in our country began with authentic Cypriot hospitality.

My best wishes for success at Travel Expo 2025!”