DISY Deputy Finance Commissioner, Dr. Stelios Platis expressed the possibility on Tuesday that tourists might move to the occupied territories of northern Cyprus. On his interview to StockWatch, Mr. Platis said that the occupied areas will be extremely competitive and will “absorb part of the tourist arrivals from the free areas”. “The combination of cheaper tourist package, virgin market, new culture for the Europeans and natural beauty will create new competitive conditions that will grow, so long as there is no Cyprus settlement”, Mr. Platis said.

Mr. Platis noted that risks from the “creation of a competitive Taiwan 200 meters north of the checkpoints are more real than ever”. “If tourism will be hit, our economy will be affected significantly”.

No new taxes

Mr. Platis also insisted that the government should not impose new taxes and recommended openings to the private sector and privatizations. As for the EMU entry in 2005, he said that this seems to be quite difficult.