Northern Cyprus is aiming to attract two million Turkish tourists this year through new projects and enhanced promotional efforts.
The “Island Cyprus” project, supported by the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), the Cyprus Turkish Tourism and Travel Agencies Association (KITSAB), and the tourism ministries of both countries, is at the centre of these efforts.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, TÜRSAB President Firuz Bağlıkaya emphasized that tourism is Northern Cyprus’s largest source of income, with the majority of visitors arriving from Türkiye. She said that the target for this year is two million tourists, and efforts under the “Island Cyprus” project are actively progressing toward that goal.
KITSAB President Orhan Tolun also highlighted the association’s ambition to build a sustainable tourism model, with a focus on maintaining tourism activity year-round rather than just during peak seasons.
Tolun noted that while weekend occupancy rates are strong, there is still room for improvement on weekdays. He reported that hotel capacity currently stands at around 26,000 beds and is steadily growing. However, he stressed the need for better regulation of private house and villa rentals.
Tolun also pointed out that 80% of tourists currently come from major Turkish cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara. He called on airlines to lower ticket prices to make travel to Northern Cyprus more affordable and further stimulate tourism growth.
( Source : BRT News)
