The number of open hotels in the occupied territories fell from 110 in 2019 to 80 today, according to the president of the TC "tourism and travel agents association" Orhan Toloun.
The GMP, in its review of the T/C press, said that in statements by Mr. Toloun in Kipris, he said that the 30 hotels that closed included both luxury and budget accommodation. He added that the total available beds in the occupied territories amount to 17,000 and currently the occupancy rate reaches 55%.
Assessing the development of tourism in the occupied territories, Mr. Toloun said that things are doing better compared to 2020 and 2021 however they are lagging far behind compared to 2019 and the pre-pandemic era. According to Mr. Toloun, the main source of tourist arrivals in the occupied territories is Turkey, however high air ticket prices are driving Turkish tourists to destinations within Turkey such as Antalya and Bodrum. He noted that casinos are a factor attracting tourists to the occupied territories. Torun also said that 70% of the overnight stays in hotels in the occupied territories came from Turkey and this number has decreased significantly.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Orhan Torun referred to the decrease in the percentage of tourists from countries such as the UK and Germany and attributed this decrease to the lack of an advertising campaign. He noted that while in previous years there were 24 tour operators in Britain the number has dropped to between two and three and as a result of the 70,000 tourists from Britain to the occupied territories in the period from 2010 to 2016, the number has now dropped to four.000.
Regarding tourists from countries such as Russia, Iran and Israel, he noted that there is an increase however they are not considered to contribute to tourism as they largely come to the occupied territories to buy homes. He added that the houses bought in the Trikomou area are available for rent after the buyers leave for their home countries.
Referring to the issue of the illegal Tympos airport, Mr. Tolun said that if it is included in the list of domestic flights from Turkey this may lead to a reduction in ticket prices by 600-700 Turkish lira.
He also mentioned that the occupancy rate of hotels in the occupied territories for January-May 2022 reached 29.6% compared to 2021 where it reached 8.5%. The number of overnight stays by foreign nationals in tourist accommodation in the occupied territories in the first five months of 2022 amounted to 282,557 including Turkish nationals. The number of overnight stays by foreign nationals excluding Turkish nationals amounted to 66,407.
Source: CNA
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