Northern Travel North Cyprus Winter program which aims to further develop tourism in the country will start with an initiative by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment.

Sharing the details of the program with the public on Tuesday, the Minister of Tourism and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu said the TRNC would be hosting tourists throughout the 12 months of the year.

Explaining that around 400,000 tourists visited North Cyprus with the Northern Travel programs from 2014-2020, he said 43,419 of the 85,000 reservations were cancelled in 2019-2020 due to the pandemic.

Stating that tourists over the age of 50 from 16 European countries were targeted with the Northern Travel winter programs, Ataoğlu said, “the winter operations are held separately from the high season, covering the months from September to May.”

He added that 36, mainly three or five star hotels, 80 buses, 50 tour guides and 25 restaurants operated during this period.

Explaining that all regions in the TRNC were visited and 25 areas were included in the winter program, Ataoğlu said all open historical and cultural sites were included in the program.

He added that there were around 500,000 overnight stays at hotels in Girne, Alsancak, Lapta, Gazimağusa and Bafra which provided half-board services.

Stating that 50 professional tour guides certificated by the ministry were overseeing the tours, Ataoğlu said that professional tourist guides from Turkey were working as group leaders.

Minister Ataoğlu also added that winter tourism contributed to the local economy.