Politis

Erhiurman: Exaggerating the Issue of Lack of Direct Flights - Statement to Turkish Journalists

Published January 15, 2026, 15:21
Erhiurman: Exaggerating the Issue of Lack of Direct Flights - Statement to Turkish Journalists

Tufan Erhiurman, a Turkish Cypriot politician, stated that the lack of direct flights to the occupied territories is not the main problem for tourism development, but the insufficient promotion of the region's cultural and natural values. Speaking to a group of Turkish journalists, he argued that the “charm” of the occupied areas has not been adequately highlighted. Erhiurman mentioned that there are significant prospects for tourism, but better promotion of the Othello Tower, Kyrenia Castle, as well as the natural beauty of Lefka and Karpasia, is needed. He expressed the view that the discussion about air connectivity is excessive. Furthermore, he referred to efforts to promote the occupied territories in Turkish cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, as well as in European destinations such as Brussels and Britain. The goal is to “redefine recognizability” of the region. Erhiurman also revealed contacts with director Dervis Zaim and actor Hüseyin Kıroğlu to create a television series set in Cyprus.