The 6th World Health Tourism Forum and Conference being held in Bafra in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) got underway with an opening ceremony on Thursday attended by President Ersin Tatar, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel and Deputy Prime Minister Fikri Ataoğlu.
The conference is being attended by delegates from 56 countries.
The conference featured the presentation of a promotional film on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and speeches by various officials.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairman of the World Health Council Deputy Ahmet Savaşan expressed satisfaction that the conference was being held in the TRNC.
The Founding President of the World Health Tourism Council Emine Çakmak for her part highlighted the council’s role in leading the health tourism sector.
Also speaking, the Minister of Finance Özdemir Berova emphasized the importance of health tourism and the rapid development of the tourism sector in the TRNC.
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu highlighted the tourism potential of the TRNC with its natural beauty and historical attractions.
Ataoğlu emphasized that the country is worth visiting and praised the quality of its hospitals, stating that they can now compete internationally.
Prime Minister Ünal Üstel who also spoke at the conference highlighted that the TRNC’s main sectors were tourism and higher education.
He further mentioned that the country is making progress in health tourism and is committed to supporting the development of the healthcare sector.
Üstel stated that the island’s consistent sunny weather makes it an ideal destination for health tourism, and that the government is ready to assist council delegates in investing in the country.
President Ersin Tatar for his part stated that health tourism is on the rise in the world and that investments in health infrastructure and accommodation services continue in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
He said that investments in the field of health tourism will continue.