Tour operator TUI refused to provide bus trips to the TRNC. The decision was made under pressure from the Sub-Ministry of Tourism. For their part, the authorities of the unrecognized state in the occupied territories express dissatisfaction.
More than a week ago, tour operator TUI Tours announced that it would cease daily bus excursions to the “TRNC” from September. On the agency’s website, in the section for excursions to Famagusta, Salamis and Kerinya, it is written that tickets are sold out.
This turn of events caused a wave of discontent on the part of the TRNC authorities. Travel agencies see pressure from the government of the Republic of Cyprus behind their decisions.
Representatives of the association of travel agencies "TRNC" reported that every day 20 bus excursions pass through the northern territories, half of which come from the southern side of the island. The “president” of “TRNC” Ersin Tatar also expressed his indignation at the company’s decision.
The Cyprus Tourism Sub-Ministry issued a statement. It said that the department is against cooperation with companies promoting tourism in the occupied territories of the island.
However, according to the regulations on the regulation of the Green Line and the agreement of both communities in 2008, tour operators from the Republic of Cyprus have the right to organize excursions in the territory of the “TRNC”. Provided: if they are conducted by a licensed Greek Cypriot guide accompanying tourists on the bus.
Therefore, bus tours from the south side are possible but not encouraged by the Sub-Ministry of Tourism.
After the scandal broke out, a parliamentary meeting was held on this issue. The tourism minister was criticized for failing to consult the country's president and foreign minister in deciding to put pressure on TUI Tours and issuing subsequent statements. Since the tours affect relations between two communities and are a diplomatic issue, independent decisions led to a diplomatic crisis amid the government's efforts to improve relations with the "TRNC" before negotiations.
Parliament refused to make the meeting closed, as deputies expressed the opinion that discussing the government’s mistakes in a closed format does not contribute to improving the work of the authorities and openness towards society.
The text was prepared based on materials from Sigma
Read also
A National Geographic explorer talks about Cyprus: read the full story.
Read 1,893
