An international conference in Nicosia has positioned sports tourism as a critical driver for sustainable development and economic resilience across Europe. Grounded in recent landmark EU Council conclusions, top officials and municipal leaders emphasized the need to balance growth with social inclusion and infrastructure capacity.

The role of sports tourism as part of Europe's wider agenda on sustainability, competitiveness and resilience, has been highlighted during an international conference entitled “Sport Tourism as a Driver for Sustainable Development”, taking place on 3–4 June in Nicosia.

In her opening remarks, on Wednesday, the Minister for Education, Sport and Youth, Athena Michaelidou, said that the conference carries particular significance because it reflects the growing political recognition of sport tourism at European level.

“Only a few weeks ago, on the 12th of May 2026, the EU Sport Ministers adopted the Council's conclusions on sport tourism as a contributor to sustainable development. This represented an important milestone for European sport policy as it marked the first time that sport tourism was addressed in a structured and comprehensive manner within the framework of the Council of the European Union,” she continued.

The Minister added that this development demonstrates that sport tourism is no longer viewed solely through the lens of events or visitor activity, but it is increasingly recognised as a cross-sectoral policy area connected to sustainability, health, education, regional development, innovation, and social cohesion.

“For Cyprus, advancing this discussion during our Presidency was a deliberate policy choice. We consider it important to place sport tourism on the European agenda because its impact extends well beyond the sport sector itself. It requires cooperation across institutions, governments, local authorities, international organisations, academia, and industry,” she stressed.

According to Michaelidou, promoting sport tourism is fully aligned with the broader policies and priorities of the government of Cyprus, which views sport not only as a field of athletic achievement, but also as a powerful vehicle for social cohesion, public health, economic development, and international cooperation.

“Through targeted investments in sport infrastructure, active lifestyles, sustainable tourism, and regional development, Cyprus seeks to maximise the positive contribution of sport to society, while creating new opportunities for growth and innovation. This approach is equally reflected in the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union,” she further noted.

She added that the Cyprus Presidency has emphasised the contribution of sport to broader public policy objectives, including physical and mental well-being, social inclusion, sustainable development, and community resilience, noting that the Council conclusions adopted in May provide an important framework for advancing these objectives and for strengthening cooperation between the sport, tourism, education, environmental, and economic sectors, while at the same time, the relevance of this topic clearly goes beyond Europe.

“The strong international participation in this conference demonstrates that countries and organisations across the world are increasingly examining how sport tourism can contribute to sustainable development, community resilience, and responsible event governance in a rapidly changing global environment. The discussions over the next two days will therefore be particularly valuable. They provide an opportunity not only to exchange good practises, but also to develop a shared understanding of how sport tourism can evolve in a more sustainable, inclusive, and strategic direction,” she concluded.

In his remarks, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Kostas Koumis, said that sports tourism is one of the fastest growing segments within the tourist industry, contributing around 10% of the global tourist spending and ultimately drives to economic growth, to infrastructure development, while at the same time it leads to global visibility for the host destinations.

“Above all, sports tourism is a bridge of reference connecting people and cultures. For the Deputy Minister of Tourism, it is a high priority within the National Tourist Strategy 2035 that Cyprus, with its favourable climate, distinctive locations and well-developed infrastructures, is naturally positioned to excel,” he continued.

He added that sports tourism could also help in achieving the goal of transforming Cyprus into a year-round destination and strategic goal for the Cyprus tourist sector and that through the incentive scheme to attract international sporting events, the Deputy Ministry actively supports organisers in bringing major events to Cyprus, thus establishing Cyprus as a destination for major sporting events.

“This conference is actually the key deliverable of our Presidency. The Council conclusions of sports tourism as a driver for sustainable development. These conclusions reaffirm a shared European commitment to place sustainable development at the core of sports tourism development. Additionally, the conference aims, through its thematic panels, to explore, among others, the sustainability in major sporting events and the opportunities opened by technology and innovation,” noted Koumis.

“I am confident that the recommendations emerging from this conference will shape the future policies and initiatives at the international, European, and national level, and will guide the integration of sports tourism into our wider sports and tourist agendas,” he concluded.

In a recorded video message, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, said that sport and tourism are deeply connected, adding that sport is a powerful engine for sustainable development, one that can strengthen our economies, enrich our communities, and promote healthier, more active lifestyles.

Micallef thanked the Cyprus Presidency for the Council conclusions adoption on sport tourism, as well as for all the work and commitment shown throughout the presidency. “These conclusions provide timely political direction to strengthen the link between sport policy, tourism, and sustainable development. Importantly, they reflect the full scope and potential of sport tourism," he commented.

According to the Commissioner, sport tourism includes travel to attend and experience sporting events and competitions, activities that generate economic value, create jobs, and strengthen the visibility and attractiveness of European destinations, including travel motivated by participation in sport and physical activity itself.

"This includes walking trails, cycling routes, outdoor recreation, community sport experiences, all activities that can diversify tourism offers, help visitors discover less visited regions, extend tourism beyond peak seasons, and encourage healthier lifestyles, both for visitors and for local communities,” he continued.

“In this way, sport tourism creates value for all. For local communities, for businesses, for tourists, and for citizens. This vision strongly aligns with the upcoming EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy that the European Commission will present in the near future,” the Commissioner noted.

“The Commission stands ready to support member states in turning this vision into action. We will continue facilitating exchanges of good practices and providing guidance on relevant EU funding opportunities, including Erasmus+. Because when sport and tourism work together, they create stronger communities, more sustainable destinations, and a healthier future for Europe,” he concluded.

In his welcome address, Nicosia Mayor, Charalambos Prountzos, said that sport is not only a competition or a pursuit of excellence, but also a powerful force that unites people across cultures and generations, promotes healthy and active lifestyles, strengthens social cohesion, and contributes to economic prosperity.

“When linked with tourism, sport becomes a true catalyst for sustainable development, if done correctly, creating lasting value for local communities, enhancing destination attractiveness, and generating benefits that extend well beyond the playing field. In this context, sport tourism presents a remarkable opportunity for our city, and for any city. Through the organisation of international tournaments, marathons, cycling events, youth competitions, university championships, and other sporting activities, we can attract visitors from around the world, stimulate economic activity, and strengthen the international profile of our city,” he continued.

He added that in the era that we live in now, in cities like Barcelona and Athens, where housing is becoming a major pressing need for locals, where the environment and infrastructure is facing already significant pressures from phenomena like overtourism, the answer is that we need to be very diligent and very careful when designing events from A to Z.

“Capacity is a crucial factor, and when we talk about capacity, it's not only the capacity to house, to provide a home for the various visitors that will come to our city. Capacity has to do with what we cannot see immediately, the infrastructure and the ability of the city to withstand the normal pressures that come with any sort of mega sports event. This brings a responsibility to the organisers of sports events, and it brings a responsibility also to the authorities of cities hosting events, because invariably, and to the large majority, events are held in the urban fabric of Europe's cities,” he further explained.

“It's the ability of a city to truly host the visitors and not merely to accommodate them from a quantitative perspective. Sustainability does not only have to do with environmental goals. There are also social elements included in the sustainable goals of the United Nations,” he added.

In his keynote speech, the Acting General Director of the Cyprus Sports Organisation, Vassos Koutsioundas, referred to May’s Council conclusions on sports tourism.

As he noted, for the first time, Europe recognises sport tourism not simply as people travelling to play or to watch sport, but as a strategic policy area, one that connects sport tourism, sustainability, regional development and social cohesion.

“The conclusions give Europe, for the first time, a common definition. Sport tourism is travel motivated either by taking part in sport or physical activity, or by attending or watching sport events, competitions or sport-related attractions,” he continued.

He added that what matters is the perspective behind the definition. “We do not view sport tourism through an economic lens alone, we treat it as a strategic tool, one that develops responsibly, strengthens territorial cohesion, supports good jobs, promotes healthier lifestyles and raises the visibility of our regions. And at the centre of all sits one principle, sustainability. Growth must be balanced with environmental responsibility and social inclusion, climate conscious planning, protected nature, real accessibility and benefits that reach local communities,” Koutsioundas stressed.

“Sport tourism is becoming part of Europe's wider agenda on sustainability, competitiveness and resilience. Governments cannot do it alone, the sport movement, tourism stakeholders, local authorities, civil society are all essential. So the conclusions invite you to build long-term partnerships and cross-border cooperations,” he underlined.

“With these conclusions Europe has for the first time a comprehensive framework for sustainable sport tourism. They carry a shared vision that sport tourism can be a genuine driver of sustainable resilience, innovation and social cohesion. Cyprus is proud to have carried this forward during its presidency and we hope that for the next two days we will turn these political priorities into practical cooperation and concrete action,” he concluded.

The event includes five thematic panels on sustainable sport tourism in EU and global frameworks, regional and community impacts of sport tourism, destination marketing through sport tourism, public–private–community partnerships in sport tourism, and technology and innovation in sport tourism.

Each panel will explore subtopics such as sustainability in mega-events, local and regional sport tourism strategies, the role of partnerships and digital innovation, and case studies from international sport events.

The discussions are expected to generate key recommendations for integrating sport tourism into EU and national sport policies, while the conclusions and outcomes of the Conference will help shape future policies and initiatives at international, EU, and national levels.

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)