Deputy Minister of Tourism, holds contacts in Brussels (video)

Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, held “important contacts” in Brussels, including with the heads of tourism organisations and the Minister of the Civil Service, Tourism, Heritage and Road Safety, Valerie De Bue, a press release by the Deputy Ministry said.

Koumis said in statements that Belgium has always been an interesting market for Cyprus but that it has not grown significantly as a tourist market for the country. He also noted that he believes that currently, the conditions were “right” for a rise of the Belgian market, “taking into account that we will have an increase in airline seats from Brussels to our country”.

During his visit to Belgium, the Deputy Minister had an “important meeting” with the Minister of the Civil Service, Tourism, Heritage and Road Safety, Valerie De Bue.

The two Ministers, it said, exchanged views on the importance and contribution of tourism at European level, the need for special attention to the green transition, the digital transformation, but also to the challenges expected to be faced by destination countries such as Cyprus, taking into account developments in aviation as they are now taking shape in the context of the Fit for 55 package.

It is noted that Belgium, from 1 January, holds the EU Presidency, while Cyprus will hold the presidency in the first half of 2026.

Koumis also met with the heads of tourism organisations that organise travel programmes to Cyprus, where they exchanged views on last year's results, as well as on the prospects for 2024, “which seem to be positive”. Discussions focused on the possible increase of airline seats to Cyprus, and on the programmes that the organisers themselves intend to promote, it said.

In his statements, Koumis said that Belgium was “a very interesting market, in which we need visibility, but also more stable communication with the market key players”. He noted that a large international community of workers lived in Brussels, and specifically, persons working in the European institutions.

Regarding his meeting with De Bue, he said that he considered it to be a very constructive meeting, during which they discussed both the current challenges facing tourism at the European level, as well as the plans and intentions of the Belgian Presidency.

“The mere fact that Belgium currently holds the European Presidency and the fact that in two years from today this will be our responsibility and competence, this emphasises the need for closer relations”, he added. Undoubtedly, Koumis said, the consolidation of cooperation and trust with European partners could be extremely beneficial for tourism as well, the press release said.

The meeting took place on 23 January and the Ministry press release was published the following day.

(Source: CNA)