“The Turkish Cypriot people are looking at the future with confidence”
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Nitovikla Garden Hotel – Cypriot Cuisine and Cultural Learning Project
Nitovikla Garden Hotel – Cypriot Cuisine and Cultural Learning Project
Minister of Tourism and Environment Fikri Ataoglu congratulated the owner of Eco-Agro Nitovikla Garden Hotel, Zekai Altan and his team.
Zekai Altan informed the Minister about their activities and said that they are proud of creating a first with their own possibilities and that in 2013, with the promotion and encouragement of the Honorary President of the Primary School of Mormenekşe and the Peace Hoca, the Cypriot Cuisine and Cultural Learning Project started with 60 students.
Altan stated that they provided significant contribution to the students with the Cyprus Cuisine and Cultural Learning Project which was implemented with the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Environment, KTOES, teachers, parents and businesses. For the Primary school, year 4 Altan noted that the project covered Cypriot Cuisine, Handicrafts and Environment and for Year 5 this was also included with the subjects of the Social Studies textbook.
He said he believed that the interest of local and foreign media in the project would make a significant contribution to the continuation of the project.
Fikri Ataoglu, Minister of Tourism and Environment said “As of May, the Ministry continued to increase the contribution made to this project in a sensitive manner, expressing satisfaction with the increase in participation by 31%. This is a very significant increase. This project is also very important from an economic point of view. In a sense, we have also created our economy. There is no need to have a large budget. Everybody is winning. The most important contribution is the practical training provided to our students”. Ataoğlu also continued to say “we will continue to give support as the Ministry of Tourism and Environment”. In addition to this, Ataoğlu continues to contribute to the students: transportation sector, all food and beverage sellers used in the menu, presentation of Mehmetcik Municipality and the region and the introduction of the Karpaz Olive Oil Plant. There is great pride in this service.
Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoglu said “the contribution to transportation to the project will continue in absolute terms and the necessary development will be done. We are very happy to express that the support of KTOES will continue to be developed with the same sensitivity and wishes to all employees on behalf of our culture and students”. He also wished to continue his work in this field by thanking the project volunteer Zekai Altan for his pleasant visits and gifts.
In the project implemented within 2014-2015 academic year; from 8 primary schools there were 630 students and 49 teachers. In the 2016 academic year (March to May) there were 1,343 students and 105 teachers from 23 primary schools and in the 2016-2017 academic year there have been 2,500 students and 225 teachers from 24 primary schools.
Ataoglu concluded by saying “The project is a first. There is creativity and sustainability. There is self-sacrifice, labour and seriousness. It breaks down the crime of hatred and enables the implementation of Cyprus cultures to continue. In addition to supporting the project, our efforts and support for the development will continue”.
Editor’s Note
In March 2017, during an impromptu visit to the Nitovikla Garden Hotel with our German friends, Chris and Fred, we were delighted to find a group of students from Atleks Sanverler Orta Okulu in Nicosia, who had been enjoying a couple of days with the Cypriot Cuisine and Cultural Learning Project and we were invited to join in with presenting certificates to the students. We felt very honoured. To see this article, click here
TRNC Ministry of Tourism “Best results for 42 years”
According to the statement made by the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, it is reported that there has been a great development in the tourism of the country during the January-May 2017 period.
Minister Fikri Ataoglu stated that a positive momentum in tourism has been achieved as of January 2017 and that 41 participants from the country’s trade and tourism sector have been very productive in the January-May period.
Ataoglu said that “Security, geographical position, hotel standards, quality of service and real estate prices are particularly important in Turkey, Britain, Israel, Germany, as well as the rest of the world. These are the signs that show what our country has done in the tourism sector and the output it shows is a concrete indication of what we can achieve by working together. When compared to other countries, it created a different attraction”.
Underlining that tourism statistics show that the best results for 42 years have been achieved, Ataoğlu stated that this achievement is the result of increasing the promotion and marketing activities as well as the collective efforts of stakeholders and all employees.
Ataoğlu stated that they have made great efforts to develop Alternative Tourism Models such as Health, Culture and Sports, and stated that they continue to work for the development of village accommodation, eco-tourism, walking paths and also to increase intra-country co-benefits.
Undersecretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Assoc. Dr. İsmet Esenyel, referred to the statistics 
and stated that the number of residents from the Republic of Turkey in the January-May period of 2017 increased by 23% from 238,000 to 293,000, while the number of foreign tourists increased by 56% from 76,000 to 119,000.
Esenyel explained that hotel nights increased from 653,000 to 783,000 with an increase of 20% from the Republic of Turkey and from 346,000 to 683,000 with an increase of 98% in foreign hotel nights. Esenyel said that when the occupancy rates in May were compared according to the regions, they were Girne 61%, Famagusta 80% and 58% in the Iskele area.
Esenyel underlined that hotel occupancy rates were up by 21% compared to the previous year. As a result of the research conducted, it was found that more tourists were interested in the TRNC and that they wanted to come and stay in the country. When the tourist profile was examined, it showed they spent more time outside the hotel and at places such as the bazaars and historical landmarks.
Ministry of Tourism reopens Derviş Paşa Mansion Ethnographic Museum
The Ministry of Tourism and Environment has reopened the newly restored Derviş Paşa Mansion Ethnographic Museum to visitors, in the old town in Lefkoşa.
The opening ceremony of the museum was conducted by the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Fikri Ataoglu, and Nicosia Mayor, Mehmet Harmancı. Deputy Erkut Sahali, Teberüken Uluçay, Ersin Tatar, and Tourism Undersecretary İsmet Esenyel, together with managers and citizens also attended the ceremony.
The restoration work was completed in 2016, and following this the maintenance, repair and conservation of 500 works have been completed by personnel employed in the conservation of cultural assets attached to the Department of Ancient Works Museum.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Tourism and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu said that the team has done its utmost to be able to exhibit artefacts and monuments which have previously been unavailable for public viewing and added that the aim is to also carry out work at other museums in need of renovation.
Ataoğlu said that the Ministry’s objective is to open a museum in every district in the country, and that efforts were already underway to open museums in Büyükkonuk, Yeni İskele, Güzelyurt and Girne.
Stating that work will continue for the restoration and preservation of buildings of historical and cultural importance, Ataoğlu added that this will bring significant developments in the field of tourism in the future.
Mehmet Harmancı also pointed out the importance of expanding the destination for tourists in Nicosia and emphasised the importance of opening the ‘Paphos Gate’.
Fuat Azimli, Director of the Department of Antiquities and Museums, gave information about Derviş Paşa Mansion and the restoration and renovation of the exhibits.
TRNC News 4.5.2017 Health tourism opportunities showcased in TRNC
Health tourism opportunities showcased in the TRNC
The TRNC’s opportunities for health tourism were showcased this week at an international meeting organized in the TRNC. Tourism and Environment Minister Fikri Ataoğlu participated in the event, alongside 100 participants from 25 countries.
Speaking at the event, which was organized at the Elexus Hotel, Tourism Minister Fikri Ataoğlu said that the government of the TRNC, like many other countries, has taken concrete steps to develop its health tourism industry, and that it has put in place the necessary legal and regulatory infrastructure particularly for health, sports and cultural tourism. Minister Ataoğlu added that the TRNC Government continues to do its utmost to develop alternative tourism sectors, such as tourism for culture, health and sports.
Source: TRNC Public Information Office –
To read more news and information from the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, please click here
Pictures shown are courtesy of the TRNC Public Information Office Facebook page.