Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu said on Sunday that they were expecting a sharp increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) once the new Ercan Airport terminal comes into service.

He added that bigger planes will be able to land at Ercan thanks to the new runway and terminal building, thus lowering costs.

Inspecting the new airport on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu said that they planned to open the new airport on November 15 in line with celebrations marking the establishment of the TRNC.

Stating that he had held a very productive meeting with the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Ersoy last week, Ataoğlu said that he had received a promise from the Turkish minister that the TRNC will be included in the destinations promoted by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism.

Ataoğlu said that everything at the new airport for the exception of lighting and electricity was ready; the Minister of Tourism said that the work was expected to be completed in September.

He also said that they expected an increase in foreign tourists with the opening of the new airport.