CROSSINGS ‘CLOSED’ TO TOURISTS FROM THE SOUTH
THE Cyprus Turkish Hoteliers Association (KTOB) and the Cyprus Turkish Tourism and Travel Agents Association (KTTSA) criticised the government’s handling of the land border reopening.
In a joint statement they claimed that the crossings had only been opened to “domestic” passage, but were “closed” to tourists. The UN had said last week that the current “Orange” Covid-19 level for crossings applies to “all categories of people” including “third country nationals” – in other words those who are not Turkish Cypriot or Greek Cypriot or citizens of an EU country.
Claiming that the government has “overlooked” the 2021 summer tourist season, the two organisations suggested that this attitude would have a “negative effect” on the economy in general and particularly to businesses that provide services to the tourism sector.
They said that the TRNC government is “killing the tourism sector” because it was “unable to improve its capacity to manage” the Covid-19 pandemic.
The statement, issued by KTOB president Dimağ Çağıner and KTTSA head Orhan Tolun said: “Following the emergence of the Covid19 pandemic and the closing of the land gates . . . we welcomed the opening of the crossings for Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots as a positive development.”
The statement continued: “While they opened the gates for ‘domestic’ crossings, they closed them to ‘tourist’ crossings. Congratulations!
“The obstacles placed in front of the passage of tourists to North Cyprus who will come to the island using the airports in the South are ‘fatal’ for the tourism sector, which was already struggling due to the effects of the pandemic.
“With the rules set by the government for tourist crossings, it is impossible to bring a single tourist to North Cyprus.”
The statement added that the TRNC’s new Covid country colour code system for entry to the TRNC is “impossible to communicate clearly” to tour operators.
The system includes “Dark Red”, “Red”, “Orange”, “Yellow”, “Green” and “Grey” categories, which are updated every week, with different testing and quarantines rules for those who are fully vaccinated or have had Covid-19 in the past, and those who have not.