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Plans by a Turkish travel agent to bring tourists from Turkey to the south of the island for the first time since 1974 have been shelved, reports from the north said yesterday.
It was revealed last week that Turkish tourists were being offered four and seven-night package deals for holidays in the government-controlled areas, in co-operation with a Greek Cypriot travel agency. Istanbul-based tour operator Karetta Travel was organising the tour through Athens, as Turkish nationals are not allowed to cross through from the north.
The tour would have included accommodation in Ayia Napa and a visit to the Hala Sultan Mosque at Larnaca Salt Lake. A visit to Nicosia was to be included along with a short trip to the north. The package deals were due to begin on May 19 with 20 people, with hopes that it could become a weekly fixture. The possibility of receiving Turkish tourists was well received by the Greek Cypriot tourism industry as long as everything was done through legal channels.
But according to yesterday's Kibris, Karetta has decided to cancel the idea after it drew too much publicity in Turkey, with the media wanting to record the historic event. 'We have decided to change he dates of the tour, after consulting our clients and taking into consideration their views. This follows the increased interest shown by the media, to a point that they have asked to follow our clients step by step,' said Karetta manager Ibrahim Habes. 'This surpassed the aim of the tourist visit, which was to reciprocate the interest shown by tourists from the Greek Cypriot side towards Turkey, especially to Istanbul, where the number of tourists arriving from the Greek Cypriot side is ever increasing.'
Habes said the interest shown would have a negative effect on his clients' holidays and that the agency would have to rethink its plans and reschedule. | 
