The public event “Sustainable Cities in Action: Upskilling Local Authorities for Smart Tourism” took place successfully on Friday, 25 July 2025, at the Amphitheatre of the District Organization of Local Authorities of Famagusta (EOAA). Organised by CARDET, the event was held in the framework of the European project UST – Upskilling Municipal Staff Competences on Planning and Managing Sustainable Tourism, aiming to strengthen the capacity of local authorities in designing and managing sustainable tourism strategies.
Bringing together representatives from local authorities, tourism professionals, and education and training providers, the event focused on the exchange of good practices and the exploration of innovative approaches for developing sustainable and smart tourism strategies in small- and medium-sized cities. Through targeted presentations and open dialogue, participants underscored the importance of digital transformation, innovation, and lifelong learning in enhancing the capacities of municipalities to address contemporary challenges in tourism management.
A key highlight of the event was a featured presentation of best practices from the European project fuTOURiSME, which is also being implemented in Cyprus by CARDET. The session provided practical examples of how sustainability and digitalisation can be effectively embedded in local tourism strategies, inspiring participants to adopt adaptable and forward-thinking approaches within their own contexts.
The programme included key presentations on redefining tourism in small and mid-sized cities, an overview of the UST project results, a case study on a local ecological initiative, and an introduction to the innovative WASD-AI concept currently being piloted at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The event concluded with an engaging discussion among participants, followed by a networking session.
The active engagement of attendees reflected a growing commitment to sustainable tourism planning at the local level, as well as a shared vision for building smarter, greener, and more resilient communities.
For more information about the UST project and CARDET’s work on sustainable tourism, please visit the page here.
