Tourism in the Republic of North Cyprus- Merit Resort as a Model
Merit Resort…. The Most Beautiful in the Middle East
Splendor of Location… Varied Means of Recreation
By Sultan Hattab– orobanews
There is very active tourism activity and flow between the two parts of Cyprus.. The Turkish side of the Islandcharacterizes the other part of Cyprus as the Greek Cyprus as opposed to Turkish Cyprus.
Since the recreation centers moved to a large extent from mother Turkey to the Republic of North Cyprus this republic flourished economically as a result of the growing tourism flow from Turkey and from the larger part of Cyprus and from the various areas of the region given the eagerness of the president of the Republic- which continues to administer its affairs through Turkey due to an absence of official recognition,–MustafaAekenjo, to promote tourism, who actually canceled visas at the gates of the Turkish border with the Cypriot part a while ago.. Hence, the discussion with OrhanTulun the president of the Federation of Travel Agencies and Tourism in the north CyprusRepublic was focused on enhancing the importance of tourism and its role in the economy of this Republic which has limited resources.
During my multiple visits to the Republic, and especially to the famous Merit Resort, I noticed the flow of Jordanians who have begun to abandon Larnaca where the Royal Jordanianaircraft land after the Cyprus flights have stopped, and then proceed to the northern part of the Island through a crossing that does not require a special visa but rather just to display a passport to identity the point and time of crossing. In reality Jordanians find in the Republic of North Cyprus a tourist destination due to its beauty and reasonable prices compared to other locations, and particularly the other Cyprus, and also because of the abundantavailability of places of recreation, which are present in such abundanceonly in the northern part of the Island.
In the Republic of North Cyprus Merit Resort which Jordanians are frequenting and preferring to tourist locations in Europe and Southeast Asia (and also Egypt where disturbances have adversely affected tourism)..Presently, Cyprus for Jordanians competes with Lebanon given that the flow of Jordanian tourists to it has declined in the wake of the Arab Spring and the events in Syria where the Syrian Jordanian border and the Syrian Lebanese border has been closed to Jordanian tourists or have become inflexible and somewhat risky.
The numbers of Jordanian tourists visiting the Republic of North Cyprus whose capital is (Girne) are next to the Lebanese.
I had visited Cyprus more than once… And when the path to the northern part became accessible several years ago I went by car from Larnaca Airport and I proceeded to the northern part, where the road took one hour until we reached the capital Girne.
Shuman: We have become a world destination give what we offer.
On my third visit to Northern CyprusI was introduced to an energetic Lebanese tourism personality, Nabil Shuman, who has marketed this resort in numerous countries and world capitals, as well as marketing it in Jordan during his visits and his encounters with numerous influential economic, social and tourist personalities, and in one of the visits he accompanied an official and a number of Jordanian artists to make them realize the eagerness of Turkish Cypriots to bolster the role of tourism as a major tributary to their economy, given that tourism is the petroleum of this small republic whose population is (450) thousand people, and which depends mainly on tourism.
Meritis the location of a huge investment whose proprietor I found adventurous for he spent more than (800) million US Dollars on building this resort, and rendering it a model in the tourism sector, particularly the new part named Royal Meritwhich attracts extensive Arabian Gulf tourism, not to mention groups and individuals from the Arab World.
Mr. Shuman, who is responsible for recreation centers in Merit,briefed me on the situation of tourism in the resort, and was one of those who contributed to making the numbers of tourists in this part of Cyprus to be in excess of (200) thousand people.
Tourism has significantly improved here and has expanded toward wider horizons..
The special resort (Merit) sends to its clients coming from varioussports of the Arab World limousines to LarnacaAirport in the Republic of Cyprus which await them to convey them to the resort where procedures are straightforward and which are performed by escorts at the crossing point between the two parts of the Cypriot Island.
The resort which is classified as 5 stars and some regard it as much more than this classification, receives well the guests and offers wide programs as relates to numerous recreation means and touring around, where the resort has one of the biggest and most modern casinos in the Middle East- if not the biggest and most modern- and there are regular concerts for major Arab artists.
The area of the Island has become a summer resort due to the abundance of hotels and tourist locations throughout its area of 3355 km2 out of (9251) km2 which represents the entire area of Cyprus.
There is so much to say about the Merit Resort which lies on the most beautiful coastlines in northern Cyprus, and is hence a lustrous star in the sky of the Island throughout the year.
The resort does not sleep whilst being active with life and is suitable for all ages for both genders thanks to its tourist components. Moreover, it combines hospitality with tradition, and is also very modern to an extent competing with the most modern European places.
Many here in Jordan encourage going to this resort which boasts of excellent restaurants and cuisine, and particularly Turkish food which is close to Arab tastes, and is akin to Arab foods, for historically it was Turkish cuisine which spread in Greater Syria extensively.
I here relished while sauntering in the hamlets nearby the resort the fine air of the high mountains and the fresh orange juice available in the plains at the nadir of the mountain and the famous mountain goat cheese, and also the well knownblack cherries, and the Turkish rosewater and cactus fruits.
I would proceed to Cyprus given the short distance to it, for it is just one hour away by plane. It is our neighbor and is the most stable and tranquil in the region, and not surprisingly it attracts tourism from all the region.
In brief I can say that the hospitality, good treatment and the eagerness to satisfy the visitors is the slogan which the big investor continues to raise in this resort, and which is embodied in the conduct of the many administrative teams.
My friend Nabil Shuman has succeeded based on his experience to present a splendid image of the resort and to market it remarkably particularly through his marketing tours.
The venue needs more publicity and promotion, and I will write further in the course of the subsequent field visits of the site, and I will meet many of its visitors and become better acquainted with the substantial available features and resources.
My friend Nabil devoted to this enterprise all his experience and resources which distinguished him ever since he was an artist..as an active member of the main Lebanese Debka dancing troupe more than three decades ago. He accumulated extensive experiences which he utilizes today through his position as the director of all the recreational sections of the resort.. He has in the process become a tourism school that combines the varied eastern cultures with a single common denominator, namely the orient, its enchantment, abundance and luxury.
السيد نبيل شومان
