Turkish Cypriots have reacted angrily to a reported deal struck between the Republic of Cyprus and tour operators to cut the number of overseas tourists visiting the north while on holiday in Cyprus.
The deal was reportedly reached with tour operator Tui, which informed its partners in Cyprus via email that it would no longer promote or sell excursions to the north from the Republic after August 31.
Neither the deputy tourism ministry nor Tui were able to confirm or deny the existence of such an agreement to the Cyprus Mail, though Tui’s website now lists its “Northern Cyprus Tour with Famagusta, Salamis, and Kyrenia” day trip package as “sold out”.
However, newspaper Kibris published a screenshot of an email which was reportedly sent by Tui’s operations team manager on the island to local guides.
It stated, “Tui has come to an agreement with [the] Cyprus government to stop promoting and selling excursions to [the] northern occupied side of Cyprus. This applies to all languages and all excursions where we currently cross the border to the north.”
Despite the existence of a deal not having yet been confirmed, there is anger among Turkish Cypriot stakeholders.
Turkish Cypriot restauranteurs’ association (Res-Bir) board member Cemal Gulercan told newspaper Kibris on Tuesday that the reported deal is “malicious”.
“This decision aims to limit tourism activities in North Cyprus and is an action which has shaken the peace and trust between the two communities,” he said.
He added that it will “increase political tensions” between the island’s communities and “can be seen as part of a strategy to isolate North Cyprus economically.
“This can never be an acceptable approach for us. This decision will have a negative impact on the service sector and restaurants,” he added.
He said, “what is needed on this island is goodwill and peace, not tension.”
Earlier, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar had also expressed his disgust at the reported deal.
“The Greek Cypriot leadership has this time placed our tourism sector at the centre of its ‘blockade policy’ aimed at collapsing our economy. Accordingly, it is taking steps to completely illegally prevent the passage of people who want to have a holiday in our country and have made a reservation in advance, including European Union citizens,” he said.
He added that the Republic is “blackmailing” tour operators, and that “this situation once again reveals the true intentions of the Greek Cypriot leader [Nikos Christodoulides] and therefore the Greek Cypriot administration regarding Cyprus’ future.”
He added, “what we need most on the island of Cyprus today is the establishment of cooperation between the two sides. I call on the Greek Cypriot leader to abandon this primitive policy and take steps towards the establishment of a new cooperation moving forwards.”
