Tourism representatives in North Cyprus have voiced concern over an increasingly difficult outlook for 2025, highlighting a sharp decline in European visitors and a mismatch between official revenue figures and actual occupancy rates. They describe 2025 as a “year of survival” for the industry, which remains under significant strain following the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Süleyman Kansu, General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Hotel Association, identified 2025 as the most challenging year for tourism post-pandemic. He noted that the European market has experienced notable losses, with five-star hotels relying heavily on casino operations to stay afloat. Meanwhile, smaller hotels face the threat of closure if conditions do not improve.
Orhan Tolun, President of the Turkish Cypriot Tourism and Travel Agencies Association, criticised the lack of marketing campaigns aimed at attracting foreign visitors. He raised doubts about the official tourism revenue data, suggesting that reported figures are inconsistent with actual occupancy rates. According to Tolun, the country’s tourism promotion efforts are minimal, especially concerning European markets, which remain unpredictable.
The winter season of 2025 has been particularly unprofitable, with Kansu stating, “We are trying to recover the guests lost from alternative markets, especially in Europe, but this year remains disappointing.” Regional geopolitical factors and regional competition further complicate the situation. Increased tourism on the Egyptian side, the well-marketed Greek Cyprus destinations, and changing trends in Turkish and Greek island tourism all exert additional pressure on North Cyprus’s industry.
Despite official figures claiming four million visitors to the island annually, Kansu remains sceptical. “We do not see such numbers in our channels, and it is unclear which markets are contributing these figures,” he said. Most visually apparent international tourists are from Iran and Russia, but many are fleeing their homeland rather than engaging in traditional tourism. When excluding Turkish tourists, the remaining international visitors from Slovakia, Poland, and the Czech Republic constitute only a small fraction.
Overall, the number of tourists staying in hotels is estimated not to exceed 30,000, with Turkey serving as the primary source market, followed by smaller numbers from Slovakia, Poland, and the Czech Republic. “European visitors are gradually leaving, and despite the urgent need for strategic measures, the situation is worsening,” Kansu warned.
Kansu observed that some five-star hotels have turned to casino operations as a lifeline, while other hotels are implementing various measures to survive. However, he warned that if this trend continues, the total bed capacity will decline substantially, harming the diversity and capacity of the tourism sector. “Five-star hotels might remain, but the removal of three- and four-star accommodation options could have devastating effects on tourism,” he warned.
Tolun criticised the absence of active promotional campaigns aimed at attracting international tourists, stating, “There are no advertising efforts, incentives, or promotional activities targeting foreign markets. Prices are high, unauthorised developments persist, and these issues prevent meaningful growth.” He forecasted a similar tourist season to the previous year, predominantly driven by Turkish visitors. European arrivals remain highly uncertain, with no clear plan in place. “We only know that Turkey is our main target; European markets are unpredictable,” Tolun explained.
He added that nearly all promotional activities focus on Turkey, including initiatives involving 240 agencies, media outlets, and social media influencers. Despite the dominance of gambling tourism, Tolun highlighted positive feedback from Turkish tourists and noted ongoing promotional efforts by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. However, he pointed out the absence of European campaigns. “The only incentives relate to winter charter flights, with no other official promotional initiatives,” he said.
Tolun also criticised the Planning Ministry’s reported tourism income figures, questioning how they could claim an increase despite stagnant visitor counts and overnight stays. “I am surprised they doubled the revenue estimate—how did they arrive at approximately 1.7 billion dollars when the previous figure was 960 million? We want clarification,” he demanded.
Source : Yeniduzen Gazetesi
