When Maraş was reopened by President Tatar in 2021, it was brimming with potential. In just three years, the town has seen an exponential tourism boom – attracting over half a million visitors in just two years. The town has the potential to become the new Dubai of the eastern Mediterranean that benefits the economies of both the North and South of the island.
Baroness Mobarik visited the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in February 2024. During her time there she saw the wealth of tourism and business opportunities the country offers the UK. She heard plans for Maraş to be restored as a world-leading tourist destination, and listened to the entrepreneurial spirit of Turkish Cypriot small business owners and the Chamber of Commerce (KTTO).
She says that the UK should seize the opportunities that the TRNC offers and recognise the two State solution on Cyprus to preserve peace and economically benefit both North and South.
Sammy Wilson MP visited the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in January 2024. Following that visit, he returned to the UK with a full understanding of the injustice Turkish Cypriots face on a daily basis – from a lack of direct flights and trade, to banning from international sporting tournaments.
Turkish Cypriots are Commonwealth citizens and the UK has an obligation to defend their interests. Currently, this is not the case, and the way to win them equality on the world stage would be through recognition of a two State solution in Cyprus.
The current fiasco surrounding the ownership of the Golden Sands hotel by King Charles has caused a diplomatic row as leader of the Greek Cypriot administration orders an investigation into the issue.
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus authorities claim that the Royal Family do own the hotel as redevelopment plans for Maraş continue.
One of the proposed images of the redeveloped town seems to have created quite a stir according to the Daily Express.
Following the Cyprus Peace Operation carried out by Türkiye, the town of Maraş had to be abandoned.
It has now been reported that the Golden Sands hotel which has been left there is owned by King Charles.
However, the Royal Family have continued to deny these claims despite the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus stating the rumours are true.
Whilst the Royal Family have tried to distance themselves from the Golden Sands hotel, the Greek Cypriot leader, Nikos Christodoulides, has ordered a full investigation into the issue.
President Ersin Tatar of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has stated to Express.co.uk that King Charles does indeed own the hotel.
Meanwhile, redevelopment plans for Maraş continues.
As redevelopment plans continue in Maraş, the ownership of the Golden Sands hotel by King Charles has once again come into question with legal battles potentially taking place in the future if the issue is not resolved.
With a consortium of billionaire businesspeople from across the globe in alliance with some of the world’s most successful hoteliers, the beachfront town has the potential to be a top holiday destination for travellers.
It will be interesting to see how the UK Government and Royal Family respond to a potential re-opening of the Golden Sands hotel.
The ownership of the Golden Sands hotel continues to come into question as redevelopment plans continue in Maraş.
King Charles is believed to be the owner of the hotel according to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus government. However, the Royal Family have denied these rumours.
The hotel was first opened in 1974 and proudly defined itself as “the world’s first seven-star hotel.”
In November 2023, a series of Turkish Cypriot community groups wrote to Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, to ask him to take a more active approach in tackling Islamophobia against Turkish Cypriot muslims. Starmer referred the group to Shadow Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, who refused a meeting citing his busy schedule.
As we face a general election this year, the Labour Party must realise that for decades Turkish Cypriots have formed a key voting bloc in their electoral coalition. Without them, they will be unable to win many seats in London and the surrounding counties.
The snub by the Shadow Foreign Secretary is a snub of 300,000 Turkish Cypriots living in the UK and highlights that cherry-picking instances of Islamophobia is real and a serious concern to many marginalised Muslim groups.
The UK formerly had a sensible approach to bilateral ties with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Not any more.
Forcing passengers to disembark one aircraft and board another in Türkiye is a cruel and arbitrary measure, especially given the historic ties between the country and the UK.
To continue in this approach would be hypocritical of the British government – especially given it did not reject Kosovo or Bosnia when they declared their independence.
Direct trade and flights is in Britain’s national interest. To not seize this opportunity gives Iran, China, Russia an open goal.