Nicosia, Cyprus, April 18, 2026.- The Cuban Ambassador to Cyprus, Rubén Pino Martínez, attended last Friday the opening day of the 27th Tourism Fair - Travel Expo Cyprus 2026, considered the only specialized tourism fair in the country and one of the most successful and established exhibitions in Cyprus.
The Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Mr. Michalis Damianos, the Greek Ambassador to Cyprus, Mr. Konstantinos Kollias, and the Vice President of the Cyprus Association of Travel and Travel Agents (ACTTA), Mr. Pambos Charalambous, inaugurated the event.
“T RAVEL EXPO CYPRUS is rightly considered one of the most successful exhibitions held on our island, attracting thousands of visitors every year,” highlighted Minister Michalis Damianos in his inaugural remarks.
“In light of recent events in the Middle East,” --concluded the minister in his brief speech-- “the Government continues, with consistency and a strategic approach, to strengthen the Cypriot tourism product through the competent attached Ministry of Tourism, supporting actions that increase the competitiveness and international projection of the sector.”
For his part, the Greek ambassador in Nicosia, Mr. Konstantinos Kollias, noted that “Greece and Cyprus, two countries united by strong ties, are among the most important tourist destinations in Europe. Our cooperation in the tourism sector is therefore not just a strategic choice, but a natural and evident extension of our relations,” he pointed out.
During the day, it was also highlighted by the ACTTA vice-presidency the timeliness of carrying out and, jointly, the opening of Travel Expo Cyprus 2026, an event that “despite the difficult conditions created due to the geopolitical crisis, this year is considerably improved, because it offers complete information about popular and emerging destinations and a wide range of organized excursions and holiday packages at attractive prices, both abroad and in Cyprus.”
According to ACTTA Vice President Pambos Charalambous, the event “takes place under the shadow of tension in the Middle East, with an environment characterized as complex and volatile,” where “the geopolitical crisis in the broader Middle East region has already left its mark, particularly affecting Cyprus.”
The 2026 event was preceded by a year of dynamic recovery in the Cypriot tourism sector, with three consecutive annual records in terms of trips by locals abroad, totaling 1.96 million trips in 2025. And, “for the first time in history,” noted Pambos Charalambous, “tourist arrivals surpassed 4.5 million, showing an increase of 12.2% compared to 2024. This demonstrates the leading role of tourism as a strategic pillar of the development of the Cypriot economy.”
“We hope that 2027 will be even better with innovative changes, as our vision is to transform the exhibitions into a regional celebration of tourism, taking advantage of our country's strategic position, both geographically and in terms of tourism,” specified the Vice President of ACTTA, Mr. Pambos Charalambous. In this regard, he thanked the representatives of Poland, Greece, and the National Tourism Organization of Greece for their respective participation, which enriches the 2026 edition.
In this context, the presence of the tourist destination “Cuba” was made evident through the Travel & Tours Agency (www.plutontravel.com.cy), promoting from Cyprus and the entire Mediterranean area, the multi-destination for Latin America and the Caribbean. An invaluable opportunity for the Cuban diplomat, Pino Martínez, to thank his team for the dedication and professionalism with which they promote the benefits and tourist attractions of the largest of the Antilles.
Embassy of Cuba in Cyprus.