Cyprus approves circular economy project for tourism sector 2026-2029

On Thursday, the Cypriot Council of Ministers approved a proposal by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism to reintroduce a circular economy support plan for hotels and tourist accommodations for the 2026-2029 period. The project aims to enhance sustainability, optimize natural resource use, and reduce waste production within the industry. It provides specialized consulting services to help businesses meet the Circular Economy Certification standards set by the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB). The initiative also includes training programs, research, and the creation of best-practice guides for the sector. This project continues a previous measure implemented under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which successfully certified 19 hotel businesses during its first cycle. The Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the OEB will collaborate on the implementation, with the OEB serving as the primary executive body. Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis described the cooperation between the public and private sectors as beneficial for the industry's overall competitiveness.