During the 24th Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention (COP24) in Cairo, the Blue Tourism Initiative hosts the side event “Pathways to a Thriving Mediterranean Blue Economy: Resilience, Innovation, and Sustainability.” The session takes place on 4 December at the St. Regis Cairo – Malachite I+II.

The event brings together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to explore how the Mediterranean can strengthen its sustainable blue economy, at a time when the region is warming 20% faster than the global average and welcoming nearly 400 million tourists each year. Participants discuss solutions that balance economic opportunity with ecosystem protection, while highlighting the importance of inclusive, resilient tourism models.

A key focus of the session is the launch of the new MED Blue Tourism Flagship Initiative under the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD). The initiative champions nature-based solutions, community-led stewardship, and cross-country cooperation to shift coastal and marine tourism toward long-term sustainability.

              >>> Agenda: link <<<

Objectives of the Side Event

In line with its mission, the side event aimed to:

• Enable dialogue and exchange of experience among Mediterranean and MENA region stakeholders engaged in blue economy transformation.

• Support policymakers and practitioners in reflecting on the actions needed to advance an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable blue tourism sector.

• Foster networking and partnerships that can lead to new initiatives and cross-sector collaborations.