Ataoğlu: 9.9 Per Cent of Tourists from Turkey Visit Casinos

Speaking on Gökhan Altıner’s Sabah Postası programme on Kıbrıs Postası TV, Ataoğlu highlighted several developments in the tourism sector. He announced that the long-delayed Theatre Building, pending completion for 26 years, has finally been finished, with electricity works requiring approval from the Supreme Election Board and already put out to tender.

Ataoğlu said the majority of hotel guests this year came from Turkey, underlining the importance of cooperation projects and promotional efforts. He noted that the Ada Kıbrıs campaign has been featured on television channels in Turkey, the UK, and Germany, with Turkish government officials attending the launch event in Turkey. Hotels, he added, have expressed satisfaction with the project.

Sharing survey results, Ataoğlu said: “Although I was hesitant to state the figure, the research shows that 9.9 per cent of tourists visit casinos, while around 80 per cent of tourists go outside of the hotels.” He also pointed out that locals have started returning to Kyrenia’s Old Harbour.

On travel from the UK, Ataoğlu stressed that under the Ada Kıbrıs programme, Turkish Cypriots in Britain can now travel to Northern Cyprus with Ajet flights at £250 for round trips, with three daily flights available. He emphasised that efforts are intensifying, stating, “We are doing everything we can.”

Ataoğlu also underlined the need for more targeted advertising campaigns in London and confirmed new steps to support small hotels, with the aim of increasing tourist numbers from the UK.