Enver Öztürk, the Economy and Tourism Minister of Northern Cyprus gave a luncheon at the London Hyatt Churchill hotel, where he briefed journalists and tourism chiefs on the participation of North Cyprus at the World Travel Centre in Excel and plans to improve tourism in Northern Cyprus next year. Attending the luncheon was TRNC Representative Yonca Şenyığıt, Restaurateur İlhan Kaki, Halkın Sesi journalists, Büyükkonuk Mayor Sezay Sezer, journalists from the London Turkish Press and BRT Television.

Karpaz is currently the region piloting eco-tourism in Northern Cyprus, where developments are currently taking place. Sezay Sezer, the Mayor of Büyükkonuk Municipality in the Karpaz peninsula of Cyprus said that what attracts tourists to his municipality is not just the usual sun and sea but the region’s proximity to nature. Mr Sezer told Toplum Postası: “Tourists avoiding the concrete monstrosities constructed over the decades in other Mediterranean resorts are increasing in number to our municipality.” Ask whether he believed Eco-Tourism would have a big impact of Northern Cyprus’ ailing economy, Mr Sezer remarked that the requirements of tourists have changed over the years with a marked increase of interest in Eco-tourism, which has already become very popular, “eco tourism will not only benefit our economy but will bring recognition,” he claimed.

Minister Öztürk also outlined plans to introduce specialised tourism, such as personal interest, conference and pilgrimage tourism. In a bid to capitalise on Christian monasteries and churches in the North of Cyprus, the Minister said he would be opening up the Apostolos Andreas (Cape Andreas) Monastery on the north-eastern most point for tourist use.

Responding to fears that European and Israeli nationals are buying up land at an alarming rate in the North and damaging the environment, Minister Öztürk argued that: “there is no such risk.” Rather, he pointed out that the real estate industry was bringing in capital into the economy that would benefit Northern Cyprus overall.

Financial incentives for tour operators

Commenting on Turkey’s pivotal role in further developing the North’s tourism, Halkın Sesi Journalist Reşat Akar asked the Minister, why Turkish hoteliers regularly offer excursions to the Greek Islands but not to North Cyprus. The Minister remarked that he could not dictate to Turkish hoteliers with whom they wish to conduct their business, but admitted that Northern Cyprus may be to blame for not making Northern Cyprus an attractive option. Suggesting ways to promote North Cyprus tourism in the future, the Minister told Toplum Postası that package tours is the most attraction option, as the Ministry will give £25 back to the tour operator for every tourist they bring to North Cyprus on a package holiday.

The Minister, who outlined plans for the arrival of tour groups from the Republic of Cyprus to the North, was met with scepticism by many leading businesspersons at the luncheon who claimed that Greek Cypriots lacked sincerity. One journalist highlighted a problem where tourist guides and the responsible tourism organisation in the South would not cooperate with similar bodies in the North. He highlighted a potential problem where if groups from the South enter the North with Greek Cypriot guides then the Ministry would be unable to control what information they feed to tourists. In agreement, the Minister said the issue needed to be solved as permitting guides selected by authorities in the South, could result in “turning the gun on oneself” by allowing the South to wage a propaganda war in the North on board buses. 

Asked what effect the appeal by Meletis Apostolides (Orams case) was having on the flow of tourists to north Cyprus, the Minister said that he confidently believes that the Orams will win again at appeal stage. He claimed that the Greek Cypriots had “shot themselves in the foot” by taking the British couple from Sussex to court as no British government would allow thousands of their own citizens to be faced with possible eviction in their country of origin.

Citing the discovery of avian flu in Northern Cyprus a year ago, and recent world cup in Germany, Minister Öztürk claimed it had an adverse effect on Northern Cyprus’ tourism, which experienced a drop in the number of tourists, according to the Minister only 30% of hotel beds were occupied. However, the Minister also highlighted errors on the part of Turkish Cypriot hoteliers who raised prices too high and did not make sufficient preparations for tourists.

Asked whether North Cyprus was focusing too much on its European market, the Minister told Toplum Postası that although efforts are underway to attract tourists from the Gulf States and Israel it’s primary target market is Europe. In particular, the Minister attached great importance to the United Kingdom, where a large Cypriot diaspora live.