Holidays in North Cyprus can be a complicated topic to discuss. The two main communities that inhabit the island of Cyprus (Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots) have always gotten along on a personal level, but have had constant political problems over the years. To condense a lot of arguments, a lot of history and many years of governmental disputes in a short summary, there was a conflict in 1974, the final result of which was the division of the island into two parts. Since then, the Greek community has occupied the south of the island (officially the Republic of Cyprus) and the Turkish community the north (known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or TRNC for short). Although the politics are, as always, extremely complex, the simple fact is that, until recently, the TRNC has been effectively isolated, being able to trade only with mainland Turkey.

This certainly hasn’t stopped North Cyprus holidays from becoming more and more popular over the years. Although the number of visitors to the north is a mere fraction of those who travel to southern Cyprus, it is significant and comfortably exceeds 100,000 per year. Also for the British tourist, the north has always had a lot to offer. Most Turkish Cypriots speak good English, sterling is widely accepted, and there is a sizeable, long-established expat community. More importantly for the average British visitor, the country’s relative economic isolation means that it has developed at a much slower rate than its neighbour.

Changes, however, are underway! Since the late 1980s, Cyprus has been pushing for EC membership and it was originally proposed that this would be allowed, on the condition that there was a final political solution to the ‘Cyprus Problem’, as it is known. A major effort resulted in the United Nations becoming involved in a possible solution, and a plan was drawn up under the leadership of Kofi Annan. The plan addressed (and addresses) all aspects of the situation between the ‘states’ and was discussed at length by the political leaders of the communities involved, along with various international heads of state. Before EC membership was granted, the Annan Plan was presented to the people of both parts of Cyprus in the form of a referendum. While the Turkish Cypriots voted in favour, the Greek Cypriot population rejected the plan; however, in April 2003, the Republic of Cyprus was granted full membership of the EC.

Since then, Cyprus has seen many changes. The border between the two parts of the island had been closed since 1974 and rigorously maintained by UN troops. In recent years, a number of crossing points have been opened and it is now easy for anyone with an EC passport to cross between North and South Cyprus. Although slow at first, it is now common to see communities merging on both sides of the border and buying freely. There has also been a growing political dialogue, albeit at times “behind the scenes”, between the leaders of Northern Cyprus and the outside world.

Changes in holidays in North Cyprus have been equally dramatic. In the past, traveling to Northern Cyprus meant a flight with a landing in Turkey en route. Although not really a major drawback, the number of carriers operating this route was small and the available departure airports in the UK were consequently limited. However, countless airlines operate flights to southern Cyprus and Larnaca airport is just a short drive from an easy border crossing. Obviously, this has had a significant impact on tourism. A sizeable number of visitors to the south in recent years have enjoyed a day trip north so much that they have subsequently returned there for an entire stay. The situation has also meant significant changes in the economic climate. Property and land prices have always been substantially lower in the North than in the South. Although prices in North Cyprus have risen quite a bit in recent years, there is still a significant difference which has translated into a real uptick in housing development. Buying property in the north seems no more complex (or more risky) than any other foreign purchase and many British buyers have welcomed the opportunity to own a home in the sun.

So what does the future hold for Cyprus? Well, although there has certainly been an increase in tourism and development, much of the region remains untouched. The Karpaz Peninsula in northeast Cyprus is a vast expanse of nature, dotted with ancient villages and pristine beaches. Kyrenia Harbor is incredibly attractive and the town of Bellapais, with the awe-inspiring majesty of Bellapais Abbey, is a favorite spot that seems to have remained unchanged for centuries. Holidays in North Cyprus are certainly changing though, and the best advice is to try and see the island before they change too much.