**Cyprus Environmental Initiative Expands to Greece for Major Cross-Border Clean-Up**
A significant environmental initiative that began in Cyprus is set to expand into Greece, uniting businesses and organizations from both nations for a large-scale clean-up campaign scheduled for September 25, 2026. The initiative, titled "Tourism Cares: Unite for Cleaner Destinations," aims to mobilize tourism workers, visitors, diving centers, local communities, environmental organizations, and volunteers across Cyprus and Greece in a concerted effort to enhance environmental awareness and reduce waste.
This year's campaign is strategically timed to precede World Tourism Day on September 27, highlighting the importance of sustainability in the tourism sector. The initiative has gained international recognition, having been included in the United Nations Tourism program of events for World Tourism Day 2026, thereby providing a global platform for the Cyprus-born campaign.
Organizers report that nearly 100 tourism-related businesses and organizations from both countries have already signed up to participate in the initiative. The campaign will focus on various locations, including beaches, coastlines, seabeds, parks, forests, and nature trails, with a particular emphasis on underwater clean-ups. This aspect of the campaign will see tourism businesses, diving centers, marine organizations, and volunteers collaborate to address marine waste issues.
The organizers have emphasized the shared responsibility of nations that share the same marine resources, stating, "If we share the same sea, we share the same responsibility." The initiative aims not only to remove waste but also to foster a culture of environmental consciousness among tourism workers, visitors, and local communities. Participants will be encouraged to adopt more sustainable practices, such as reducing unnecessary waste and limiting the use of single-use plastics, thereby turning environmental awareness into actionable behavior.
The Tourism Cares initiative has seen significant growth since its inception in Cyprus, with participation levels and the amount of waste collected increasing each year. In 2024, the campaign involved 60 tourism businesses and organizations, engaging over 1,650 employees and hotel visitors, resulting in the removal of more than 1.5 tonnes of waste. The following year, participation rose to 75 businesses and organizations, with over 2,250 individuals involved, leading to the collection of 2.3 tonnes of waste.
This year marks a pivotal moment as it is the first instance of collaboration between tourism businesses and organizations from both Cyprus and Greece under the same initiative. The expansion into Greece represents a significant step toward a broader goal of connecting tourism communities across the Mediterranean. Organizers assert that environmental challenges transcend national borders, necessitating cooperation, shared responsibility, and collective action.
The campaign also seeks to inspire visitors to take a more active role in protecting the destinations they explore, moving beyond mere consumption of the tourism experience. By encouraging tourists to engage in environmental stewardship, the initiative aims to create a more sustainable tourism model that benefits both the environment and local communities.
"Tourism Cares" is jointly organized by the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI), TUI Care Foundation, and TUI Musement, as part of the "Keep our Sand and Sea Plastic Free – Destination Zero Waste Cyprus and Greece" project. In Cyprus, the initiative is being conducted under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, with support from various organizations, including the Commissioner for Environment and Animal Welfare, the Cyprus Hotel Association (Pasyxe), the Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises (Stek), the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (Actta), the Cyprus Association of Tourist Guides (Pasydixe), and Hermes Airports.
Tourism businesses and organizations in both Cyprus and Greece are invited to organize their own clean-up or awareness activities as part of the campaign on September 25. Registrations for this year's initiative will close on September 21, 2026, allowing time for additional participants to join the effort.
The organizers envision that this campaign will evolve from a two-country initiative into a broader Mediterranean movement, fostering collaboration among tourism communities to protect the natural environments on which the sector relies. Through collective action and a commitment to sustainability, "Tourism Cares: Unite for Cleaner Destinations" aims to set a precedent for responsible tourism practices in the region.