President Ersin Tatar: “We Support Health Tourism”

At the General Assembly of the Cyprus Health Tourism Council, it was determined that the “third age” segment of health tourism will gain importance after the pandemic and this will create a strategic opportunity for the TRNC.

General Assembly of the Health Tourism Council, guest of honor President Ersin Tatar, Minister of Tourism and Environment Fikri Ataoglu, Minister of Interior Kutulu Evren, Minister of Public Works and Transportation Unal Üstel with the participation of the council members. Presidents and representatives of KITSAB, KITOB, RESBİR, Association of Self-Employed Physicians, Association of Private Hospitals, Association of IVF Centers Operators, senior managers of hospitals and hotels and scientists also took part in the General Assembly.

TATAR WE INVITE THIRD AGE TOURISTS

In his speech at the meeting, President Tatar said that despite the pandemic, the point the TRNC has reached with its infrastructure, communication facilities and manpower gives important messages, and stated that the good management of the pandemic is the success of the people, healthcare professionals and those who invest in the health infrastructure.

Underlining that it is obvious that the pandemic is being managed very well in the TRNC when looking at Europe and many other countries, the President underlined that Ersin Tatar; Considering that there are one billion people over the age of 65, which we can call “elderly” in the world and 130 million in Europe, and that this number will reach 2 billion in 2050, he stated that Northern Cyprus offers a safe alternative for tourists of this nature as an ’elderly-friendly country“. Tatar said that the Cyprus Health Tourism Council will support the work to be carried out in cooperation with stakeholders in this field. Tatar called on retired, elderly tourists from all over the world after the pandemic and said, ”We invite third age tourists to the TRNC, which is one of the safest countries in terms of health, with its sun, natural beauties, historical touristic richness and more than 300 days of sunshine, for medium and long-term accommodation.“.

Tatar said that we should take advantage of the fact that we have achieved success in pandemic management with the strengthening of our health infrastructure, the increase in the number and service quality of both university and private hospitals as well as public hospitals, and that the self-confidence and perception that health tourism can be successfully carried out in our country has been formed.

President Tatar pointed out that by integrating the health system and tourism potential, people from many parts of the world can be attracted to our country through international initiatives and emphasized that it is time to market this perception and said, “We have managed to stand. I think everything will be better from now on.”.

LIGHTER'S SUGGESTION TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY...

Emin Çakmak, Founding President of the World Health Tourism Council and Turkey Health Tourism Development Council, also attended the meeting online and addressed the general assembly, and it was stated that the devoted work carried out by the Cyprus Health Tourism Council in the international arena for 5 years will be of great benefit to the development of health tourism after the pandemic. Çakmak pointed out that it is an important development that the flag of the TRNC is waved in the World Health Tourism Council with the initiatives of the Cyprus Health Tourism Council and the great support of Turkey and its representation is crowned with the Vice Presidency.

Under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Minister of Tourism and Environment attended the Health, Sports and Alternative Tourism Congress and Fair in Antalya under the roof of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where 4 thousand delegations from 150 countries came together. Fikri Ataoglu Emin Çakmak stated that the council, which participated in the presidency, showed the world the determination of Northern Cyprus to exist in health tourism and underlined that Turkey will always stand by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Stating that the World Health Tourism Council will provide the necessary support for Northern Cyprus to be preferred by 3rd age health tourists from various countries of the world as an Elderly Friendly Country in 2021, Emin Çakmak pointed out that Northern Cyprus also has a significant potential in medical, spa-wellness fields. Çakmak underlined that these areas offer an opportunity that can start at the earliest in the field of tourism after the pandemic and will bring significant revenues.

 SAVASAN THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH TOURISM HAS INCREASED...

Pointing out that in many scientific studies, it is predicted that the number of tourists traveling to protect and improve their health on the one hand and to regain their lost health on the other hand will increase after the pandemic, Cyprus Health Tourism Council President Dr. Ahmet Savaşan In his speech, he thanked the President of the Republic for his important support from the highest authority of the state for the development of health tourism. Ersin Tatar’thanked the Minister for his support.

Reminding that the world health tourism market reached a volume of 800 billion dollars before Covid-19, and Turkey's 2023 target for this market is 1.5 million health tourists and 10 billion dollars in revenue, Savaşan underlined that the TRNC's tourism revenues, which were around 1 billion dollars, contracted by % 80 this year. Pointing out that health tourism will gain a much more strategic importance at the point of restarting tourism in Turkey and the world, Savaşan said that the council will take concrete steps in 2021 by working together with all stakeholders.

Stating that the “Elderly-Friendly Country-Northern Cyprus” commission, which will include professors, associate professors, doctors and competent people in various fields of expertise from fields such as geriatrics, psychology, physiotherapy, nursing, social services, dentistry, etc. within the Council, will be activated and will complete the previously initiated studies as soon as possible, Savaşan stated that the commission will work to contribute to bringing Northern Cyprus to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Healthy Cities and Elderly-Friendly Countries standards. Savaşan said that the close cooperation and support of the Presidency, the Prime Ministry, the ministries of health, tourism, tourism, transportation and interior, as well as the YAGA, is needed in order to complete the work quickly and accept guests in the early stages and contribute to the economy.