#Trnc Deputy Prime Minister, Minister Of Tourism, Culture, Youth And Environment Fikri Ataoğlu

Cyprus targets 2 million tourists this season

Ataoğlu made evaluations to the AA correspondent about the start of the summer period in TRNC tourism. Explaining that they are working in many cities to diversify the places that tourists will visit throughout the country, Ataoğlu said that they carry out advertising activities in Turkey, Russia, England and Germany. Ataoğlu stated that the agencies carry out activities to bring tourists to the TRNC and pointed out that they expect these activities to make a positive contribution to the number of tourists coming to the country. Pointing out that tourism has an important place in the TRNC economy, Ataoğlu reminded that during the Kovid-19 epidemic, the number of tourists visiting the TRNC decreased, as in the whole world. Ataoğlu continued: "Our expectation in the number of tourists is above the previous years. We have set a target of over 2 million for this year and we are working towards this target. All our efforts are about to realize the target we have set. We are now entering the summer period, during this period tourists have serious demands for the TRNC. The occupancy rates of our hotels are promising." Emphasizing that the number of beds and facilities is limited despite the increasing number of tourists, Ataoğlu noted that correspondence was made with the relevant ministries for the construction of new hotels in the tourism regions of the country in order to increase the number of existing beds, and that the Ministry is also carrying out serious studies on this issue. "The new airport will increase the number of tourists" Stating that the new terminal building and runway of Ercan Airport will make a great contribution to tourism when it is put into service, Ataoğlu said, "The new airport will increase the number of tourists. Tourism will revive even more with the increase in the number of flights and the arrival of new airline companies to Ercan." Underlining that they attach special importance to tourists coming from Turkey, Ataoğlu said, "We are waiting for our brothers from Turkey to the TRNC."