GIRNE - Turkish Cypriot side and Syria had launched a cooperation in tourism, Turkish Cypriot authorities said on Tuesday.
The Foreign Ministry of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) organized a four-day trip to Syria to boost touristic cooperation between the two countries, the authorities also said.
The Turkish Cypriot delegation consists of representatives of tourism agencies, hotel managers, journalists and executives from the TRNC Foreign Ministry and Economy & Trade Ministry.
The delegation went to Latakia by a ferry boat from port of Girne. They will discuss with their Syrian counterparts travel means between the two countries and package tours.
The Turkish Cypriot delegation will visit Palmira and Aleppo cities.
Also, TRNC Foreign Minister Turgay Avci will leave for Syria on Wednesday.
TRNC Foreign Minister Turgay Avci paid a two-day visit to the Syrian capital of Damascus to boost commercial ties and naval transportation between the two countries in August 2007. Also, Syrian businessmen visited TRNC in March 2007.
Regular ferry services between TRNC's Gazimagusa port and Syria's Latakia port were launched in October 2007, after an interval of 28 years.
The voyages had been suspended for some time, but resumed on February 11th, 2008. The Akgunler Maritime Company was arranging the ferry voyages by a Georgian-flagged ferry. However, the Georgian authorities took back the flag. Then, the firm applied to Turkey and got necessary permits for Turkish-flagged voyages.
(BRC-MS)