At taxi and bus stops, at tourist offices, and even in hotels. Everywhere brochures and signs advertising trips to the occupied territories, Kyrenia, Famagusta, Apostolos Andreas.
It seems that easy money at the expense of a semi-occupied homeland and the Cypriot economy has no substitute, although it bothers the owners of small and medium-sized enterprises in Protaras and Ayia Napa. These compatriots have been receiving blows for years from the parastate of the tourism industry, which profits by sending tourists from the free areas to the occupied territories.
This year, businessmen say in despair at the two tourist resorts of the place, evil has been done. And it adds points to the already existing problem of reduced tourist arrivals. It was these simple small and medium-sized businessmen who guided us on this journey to the sanctuaries of the tourist robbery industry from free Famagusta to the occupied territories. For shopping, for food, for a short stay, for a trip to Turkey, all kinds of entertainment, from casinos, to above-ground and underground hangouts - and more.
Since nothing was done to stop the informal economy of channeling tourists in the occupied areas in the previous years, it continues this year, in fact with greater zeal, since there is another factor for attracting tourists. It is the devaluation of the Turkish pound that makes the markets for services, food, souvenirs, etc. in the occupied up to 30% -35% at least cheaper than the free areas. "This is a big advantage," say businessmen at the two resorts, who see their businesses without the expected traffic for the season. And they describe who, what time, with which minibuses and minibuses and how many, receive every day from the hotels and tourist apartments of Ayia Napa and Protaras, hundreds of tourists to take them to the occupied areas.
A few thousand every month. For a safari in Karpasia and Apostolos Andreas. To see the donkeys of Rizokarpasos. To buy silver and gold in Magoza (Famagusta), to buy clothes and shoes directly from Turkey to occupied Nicosia (Nicosia is only mentioned in the leaflets) and Kyrenia. For fresh fish in Bogazi and on the coastline from Orka to the area of Kantara.
"Tell your girlfriend from the Netherlands to cut a ticket from our office and not be afraid of anything. We have a very good bus driver who is also our friend who has a bus and people go to Famagusta. For € 20 only, from morning until late afternoon. If he has a child € 10 this. To eat, drink and shop. "Much cheaper than here in Ayia Napa, tell her", the foreign employee explains to us in a tourist office. And she loads us with two leaflets to have a choice, which of the two friends of the guide we will choose for our friend's trip.
"It simply came to our notice then. "Tourists come and take them and shop in Famagusta for gold and silver, without realizing that they have passed into territory not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus and they tell us that" in the other city the prices are lower ". "In which city?", The Greek Cypriot asks in the goldsmith and they answer "In Magoza, in Gazi Magoza, much cheaper there than you".
The restaurant on the boulevard that intersects the tourist Protaras, orders us where to walk. In taxi stops and squares of small tourist or large tourist buses. Everywhere. Kyrenia, Apostolos Andreas and Famagusta. They are advertised as tourist destinations such as Paphos, Limassol, the Camel Park in Mazoto and the city of Larnaca.
At a time when the people of small and medium enterprises in the two tourist resorts of free Famagusta, are looking sadly, with despair at the taxis, the small and the big tourist buses, to transport tourists for excursion, shopping and food in occupied Cyprus, our occupied half homeland . At a time when people in the tourism industry are anxiously watching this year's indicators in the industry, unable to reach last year's levels.
Source: Liberal