News reports in the Turkish Cypriot press have indicated a significant surge in crossings through checkpoints in Cyprus in 2023.
This increase includes both Greek Cypriots and foreigners.
Turkish Cypriot daily Diyalog highlights that statistics reveal that the checkpoints have become economically more important than the illegal Tymbou airport and the ports. According to Diyalog, in the first half of 2023, the number of people entering the occupied territories by air and sea was 779,000 (including “citizens” of the ‘trnc’), while 2,428,000 entered through the checkpoints, excluding “citizens” of ‘the so-called ‘trnc’.
As previously mentioned, in the first half of 2023, the number of crossings to the occupied territories via checkpoints reached 2,428,000, compared to 2,315,000 during the same period in 2022. It is also noted that the number of crossings by citizens of the Republic of Cyprus to the occupied territories increased to 766,913, while citizens of other countries reached 583,242.
In statements to Diyalog, shopkeepers in the Arasta area of occupied Nicosia stated that the market has somewhat revived due to the increase in crossings to the occupied territories. They emphasised that the “authorities” have a significant duty to open more checkpoints.
“All-Time High”
According to other data cited by Yeni Bakis, crossings through the checkpoints increased by 21.54% during the first eight months of 2023 compared to the same months last year. At the end of the first eight months, the number of foreigners (including Greek Cypriots) who entered the occupied territories through checkpoints reached 3,492,726, as reported by the newspaper.
Yeni Bakis adds that the passage of Greek Cypriots to the occupied territories continues to increase due to the fall of the Turkish lira and the exchange rate against the euro. The number of Greek Cypriots who crossed to the occupied territories through checkpoints was 2,043,555 during the first 8 months of 2023, marking an all-time high (since 2003, to be precise).
According to the “Ministry of Tourism” data, the number of Turkish Cypriots who crossed into Republic of Cyprus-controlled areas during the same period was 1,620,180.
“The 24.40% increase in the number of citizens from other countries using the checkpoints is satisfying. According to the data from the ‘Ministry of Tourism,’ during the first 8 months of last year, as well as in 2022, citizens of the United Kingdom and Greece had the highest number of crossings, while Romanian citizens ranked third, surpassing Bulgarians this year,” the newspaper reports.