As Mediterranean destinations face growing pressures from climate change, overtourism and increasing demands on local infrastructure, sustainable tourism has become a strategic priority across the region. Against this backdrop, the Interreg Euro-MED Dialogue4Tourism project, under the Sustainable Tourism Mission, spoke with Alexis Vafeades, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works of the Republic of Cyprus, to discuss the role of cooperation and policymaking in shaping a more resilient future for tourism.
The interview takes place in the context of Cyprus’s recent Presidency of the Council of the European Union, highlighting the country’s commitment to advancing sustainable and resilient tourism policies through regional cooperation.
Minister Vafeades underlined that Dialogue4Tourism Project bridges policymaking with the realities on the ground, enabling decision-makers to better respond to the challenges faced by Mediterranean destinations. For Cyprus, these challenges include pronounced tourism seasonality, which creates peaks in visitor demand, and the resulting pressure on infrastructure, both of which require strategic planning and coordinated long-term action.
He stressed that addressing these issues cannot be achieved by individual actors alone. Instead, it requires shared responsibility, coordinated action, and close cooperation among public authorities and tourism stakeholders.
For Minister Vafeades, preserving natural landscapes and the Mediterranean’s rich cultural heritage is no longer solely an environmental objective—it is a fundamental economic necessity. Sustainable tourism is not an option; it is essential for long-term competitiveness. Protecting our environment and cultural heritage is directly linked to economic sustainability.
