Greek Cypriot daily ‘Alithia’ and other newspapers reported on a statement made by Greek Cypriot Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA).
According to the report, Koumis said that the Tourism Ministry promotes the country as a tourist destination without putting pressure on anyone, Kibris Postasi reports.
When asked whether there is an agreement between the Greek Cypriot administration and TUI or if there was pressure on TUI to stop day trips to Northern Cyprus, Koumis explained that, as in many cases, they were talking about a promotional campaign for the country, and that these campaigns have two parts.
Koumis mentioned that they never choose to share any specific information with the public and that the Tourism Ministry, either on its own or in collaboration with other tourism stakeholders, plans promotional campaigns, but these promotions never include areas under the control of Northern Cyprus.
Koumis stressed that the Tourism Ministry’s policy has always been consistent and that they do not cooperate with travel agencies that organise accommodation programmes in Northern Cyprus.
When asked whether TUI is involved in this, Koumis stated that he would not comment on any particular tourism organisation.
Regarding tourists entering Northern Cyprus through the Greek Cypriot-controlled legal ports and airports, Koumis said that this issue is related to the Green Line Regulation, which allows EU citizens to enter South Cyprus and cross to the North through the checkpoints.
According to Greek Cypriot daily ‘Alithia’ , the Greek Hoteliers Association PASIKSE “Famagusta region” made a statement and described TUI’s decision to end daily visits to the TRNC as a “positive step”.
PASKSE “Famagusta region” President Panayiotis Konstantinu stated that TUI’s decision to end daily tours to the TRNC is a positive step in preventing visitors from being directed to the TRNC.
Adding that they have been discussing the issue of tourists heading north for years, Konstantinu argued that TUI’s decision is an important measure to prevent the flow of tourists in this context.
Konstantinu also pointed out that Larnaca and the “Famagusta area” are two regions where there is a tourist flow to the North.