Istanbul, May 17, 2025 – The Europe Today: Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz reaffirmed Türkiye’s steadfast support for enhancing tourism in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) during the official launch of the “Island Cyprus” tourism campaign in Istanbul.
The launch marks the unveiling of both the TRNC Tourism Master Plan and a dedicated branding initiative to promote the island’s rich natural, cultural, and historical assets to a global audience.
“Having a tourism master plan is extremely valuable and encouraging,” Yilmaz stated, highlighting the importance of structured efforts to uplift the TRNC’s tourism sector. “The TRNC Tourism Master Plan and the Island Cyprus Campaign are concrete indicators of our common vision in this direction.”
Strategic Vision for Tourism Development
Citing Türkiye’s 2024 tourism figures — over 62 million visitors and more than $61 billion in revenue — Vice President Yilmaz stressed Ankara’s goal to help the TRNC secure a stronger foothold in international tourism.
The Island Cyprus brand, he said, was designed to showcase the TRNC’s scenic beauty, historical heritage, gastronomy, and distinct island identity, with an emphasis on reaching untapped domestic and international markets.
“Millions of Turkish citizens have never visited the TRNC,” Yilmaz remarked. “This campaign will spark their curiosity and inspire them to explore the island’s hidden treasures.”
Türkiye’s Ongoing Support for TRNC
Reaffirming Türkiye’s comprehensive support across transportation, health, education, and infrastructure, Yilmaz pointed to the 2025 Economic and Financial Cooperation Agreement as a vital framework for bilateral progress and prosperity.
He also underlined Türkiye’s consistent stance on the two-state solution as the most realistic and sustainable approach for Cyprus, given the repeated failures of reunification efforts in the past.
“The Century of Türkiye will also be the Century of the TRNC,” he declared, underscoring Ankara’s long-term commitment to peace, development, and regional cooperation.
Yilmaz concluded by announcing that efforts are underway to make travel to the TRNC more affordable and accessible, a key step toward increasing tourism flow and reinforcing socio-economic bonds between the two nations.
