**Entries into North Cyprus Drop by 13.3% in First Half of 2023**
The number of individuals entering the northern part of Cyprus has experienced a significant decline of 13.3% in the first six months of 2023, according to recent data published by the Turkish Cypriot newspaper Kibris Postasi. The total entries recorded from January to June amounted to approximately 1.98 million, a decrease from 2.28 million during the same period in 2022. This drop represents a reduction of 303,526 entries.
The data highlights that the most pronounced decrease occurred at crossing points, where entries fell by 13.7%, dropping from 2,121,216 to 1,829,954. This decline reflects a broader trend observed across various entry methods, including land, air, and sea.
Entries from government-controlled areas constituted the largest segment of crossings but also saw a notable decrease, falling by 16.5% from 1,227,168 to 1,024,706. Similarly, entries from the United Kingdom decreased by 16.2%, totaling 95,695, while those from Greece fell by 17.3%, reaching 90,018.
In contrast, some countries reported an increase in entries. Poland recorded a 5% rise, with 69,772 arrivals, while Germany saw a 5.2% increase at land crossings, totaling 70,035. These increases stand out amid the overall decline in entries from other nations.
Foreign arrivals through airports and by ferry also experienced a downturn, with a 7.7% decline from 158,360 in the first half of 2022 to 146,096 in 2023. Notably, Germany was the exception among air and sea arrivals, showing a substantial increase of 34.1%, from 16,453 to 22,063.
Russia remained one of the largest sources of visitors, despite a slight decrease of 2.5%, with 19,743 arrivals recorded. Conversely, arrivals from the UK fell by 13% to 9,546, and those from Iran saw a dramatic drop of 42.3%, totaling 8,985.
Certain European markets faced particularly sharp declines, with arrivals from France plummeting by 79.3% to just 1,100. Belgium and Croatia also reported significant decreases, with drops of 78.8% and 76.3%, respectively.
The figures were compiled from data provided by the general directorate of the police and the tourism planning department in the north. It is important to note that the statistics reflect entries rather than unique visitors, meaning individuals making multiple crossings within the six-month period are included in the totals.
This decline in entries into the north raises questions about the factors influencing travel patterns and tourism in the region. As the tourism sector continues to adapt to changing circumstances, stakeholders will be closely monitoring these trends in the coming months.