BERLIN

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) aims to attract more than 2 million foreign travelers in 2023, the country’s tourism minister said Wednesday.

“We are hopeful that we will exceed the 2022 figures and host more than 2 million tourists this year,” Fikri Ataoglu told Anadolu during the ITB Berlin travel fair.

Ataoglu said TRNC’s pavilion aroused great interest this year at the fair, which is the world’s largest tourism trade show.

“We are displaying our rich history, natural attractions but also alternative tourism options,” he said, adding that TRNC has taken measures in recent years to promote sports and health tourism.

Nearly 1.5 million foreign travelers in 2022 spent holidays in Northern Cyprus. Germans and the British were the largest groups of visitors from Western Europe.