Turkish Cyprus wants to enter tourism fairs

STOCKHOLM - Anatolia News Agency

This file photo shows a hotel in the Turkish part of Cyprus. DHA photo

Turkish Cyprus hotels cannot advertise on international tourism marketing websites and in some trade fairs due to the pressure exerted by Greek Cyprus, head of the Association of Turkish Cypriot Hotels Ayşe Dönmezer has said.

Turkish Cypriot hoteliers want to join tourism fairs in Goteborg and Helsinki every year, but Greek Cypriots prevent it, she said during an event in Sweden to promote the tourism sector in the country. “The fair organizers do not permit us to participate in the events as a result of Greek Cypriot repressions,” she said.

The gathering took place in Stockholm and was attended by Swedish and Turkish Cypriot travel agencies, Turkish Ambassador to Sweden Zergün Korutürk, Turkish Cyprus representative in Stockholm Damla Güçlü. The number of Swedish tourists who arrived at Ercan Airport reached 1,266 and via Larnaca was 11,164 in the first nine months of 2012, Dönmezer said. Turkish Cyprus has organized a series of meetings in the Scandinavian countries including Denmark and Norway to present the tourism potential of the country, she said.