Turkish tourists have warned others to avoid holidaying in the parts of northern Cyprus illegally occupied by Turkey since 1974.
YENİDÜZEN received opinions about the occupied territories of Cyprus from tourists, with people complaining about transportation, rental costs, electricity and water shortage.
What did the tourists say?
● Süheyla Güleç: There is no order
● Ali Celik: Life is expensive here
● Ayhan Esentürk: There is a traffic problem
● Zühre Esentürk: There are people from 72 nationalities here
● Muhammet Yeter: Rents are very high
● Dilay Su: There is an electrical problem
● İbrahim Ethem Dilsiz: The holiday is expensive
● Tuğba Dilsiz: Transportation is a big problem here
Tourists pointed out that there are people of various origins in the country; they mentioned a shortage of transportation on the island, emphasised the extremely high rents, and hotel price costs. They also said there is also a shortage of electricity and water, and occupied Nicosia should be cleaner.
Süheyla Güleç: There is no order
“No one knows anything, especially in ministries. When I came to the country last time, they said that over 65 years old are exempt from visas. Then I got a residence permit for one month. I was fined 20,000 liras at the exit. Why I asked, 'You entered on January 13th? At the beginning of January, the law changed.' Is this going to happen? Why didn't they report it when I arrived then? I didn't do anything because I didn't know either. Otherwise, I could extend it. I will leave now; I hope I will not be punished again. There is no order. Ignorance about the job is at the line stage. I also saw the new airport for the first time. This place is also a little troublesome. I said the old one was better when I entered.”
Ali Celik: Life is expensive here
“On the one hand, there are water problems. The second is the cleanliness in Cyprus, which is a tourist country. I stayed in Kyrenia for a while. There is no environmental order. There was too much traffic. Life is expensive here.”
Ayhan Esentürk: You can't live in this country
“We have been in Cyprus for one week. There is a transportation problem in this country. In Turkey, we go 100 kilometres for ten liras. Here, between Famagusta and the airport is very expensive. Life is costly. You go to a hotel; two people are 1,800 TL per night. You cannot live in this country. It is at least three times more expensive compared to Turkey. There is no job area. I've always seen African origin on the street; they invaded the country. We did not like Cyprus at all. There is no infrastructure, Famagusta is full of holes all over."
“Although Nicosia is the capital, it is not clean or beautiful. The capital should be stylish. The sidewalks are terrible. Transportation is provided by taxis. We wanted to go to Nicosia from Ercan, and they asked for 600 TL. The beaches were also neglected in Famagusta. There are people from 72 nationalities here. Especially those of African descent are concentrated. As far as I can see, they even ruined the buildings they stayed in from the hotel.”
Muhammet Yeter: Rents are very high
“I went to Nicosia and Kyrenia. I stayed here for two days. I thought about renting a house in Kyrenia, but it was overpriced. Rents are very high. There are more foreign nationals than Turks in the country. Transportation is also a problem in Cyprus."
Dilay Su: There is an electricity problem in the country
“I love Cyprus very much. There is also a shortage of transportation here. But it's not a place to visit. I'm actually an earthquake victim. I am a teacher in Turkey. I spent my whole vacation here. My family lives in Lefke. My father lives here. House rents are overpriced. There is also an electricity shortage in the country. Electricity is regularly cut off in Lefke. Although Famagusta is more developed, there is also a shortage of electricity and water there.”
İbrahim Ethem Dilsiz: The holiday is expensive
“We stayed inside for six days. The country is beautiful in general. However, the holiday was expensive. When we asked why, they cited the fact that more foreigners lived and the height of the foreign currency. We earn TL. We provided transportation by renting a car. Otherwise, we would have a lot of trouble. Taxis are costly.”
Tuğba Dilsiz: Transportation is a big problem here
“I am coming to Cyprus for the first time. Transportation is a big problem here. We rented a car so that there would be no problem. Hotel prices were high because they were indexed to foreign currency.”
Turkish tourists telling others to avoid occupied Cyprus
● Süheyla Güleç: There is no order
● Ali Celik: Life is expensive
● Ayhan Esentürk: Traffic problems
● Esentürk: There are 72 nationalities
● Dilay Su: No electricity
● Tuğba Dilsiz: No public transport… pic.twitter.com/VusIeD2TkI— Harry Theocharous (@TheocharousH) August 7, 2023
READ MORE: Turkish-speaking Cypriot harassed a Greek Cypriot priest in the monastery of Apostolos Andreas.
