Ataoğlu: Our Aim Is for Turkish Citizens to Own Property in Northern Cyprus

Speaking to Anadolu Agency during the “11th World Halal Summit and Halal Expo International Trade Fair” held in Istanbul under the auspices of the Turkish Presidency, Ataoğlu stressed the need for collective ownership and development of Northern Cyprus. He stated: “Our primary wish is not for people living in other countries to own property here, but for our brothers and sisters residing in Turkey to become property owners on these lands.”

Ataoğlu explained that all industry and trade chambers in Northern Cyprus participated in the fair, showcasing the island’s potential. B2B meetings were conducted to discuss trade cooperation and investment opportunities.

He also emphasized that significant progress has been made in health tourism over the past 11 years, with increasing numbers of tourists visiting the country for medical purposes.

Referring to the “Ada Kıbrıs” project aimed at branding Northern Cyprus in tourism, Ataoğlu noted: “We reached out even to the most remote corners of Turkey. We have an island we call Northern Cyprus, sharing the same language, religion, and currency. We encourage our citizens to invest here, in their own country, rather than in other countries or islands.”

He added that promotional efforts, including TV campaigns and adjustments to flight fares by Turkish Airlines and Pegasus, contributed to a 30–40% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the previous year, underlining the importance of continuous promotion for the island.