German tourist surge in occupied North

A significant rise in German tourists visiting the occupied territories of Cyprus is expected in the coming months, according to statements by the so-called "minister of tourism" Fikri Ataoglu.

Ataoglu expressed optimism that recent promotional efforts, combined with incentives and targeted advertising campaigns in Germany, will yield positive results. His comments were made to Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of the ITB tourism fair in Berlin, one of the largest travel and tourism trade shows in the world.

According to Turkish Cypriot media, Ataoglu highlighted that Germany remains the largest source of tourists for the occupied territories. He pointed to the launch of charter flights and their accompanying subsidies as key measures to attract more German visitors.

The ongoing advertising campaign, featuring frequent commercials promoting the occupation regime on German television channels, is expected to further boost interest, Ataoglu said. He also emphasized efforts to promote gastronomy, cultural heritage, and health tourism — sectors that are becoming increasingly popular among European travelers.

The latest push is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the tourism sector in the occupied territories, which is a vital part of the economy. However, the promotion of tourism in the north is a contentious issue, as the region remains under Turkish military occupation since 1974 and is not recognized as an independent state by the international community, except for Turkey.