Sunday marked three years since a decision by the Council of Ministers to open a section of the fenced-off town of Maraş that had remained closed for almost half a century to the public.

Among the areas opened for daily visits as part of the initiative has been the town’s Democracy Avenue and a beachfront.

Over half a million tourists have visited Maraş since the area’s partial opening by TRNC authorities in 2020.

A portion of the region – about 3.5% of the total area – has been reopened since October 2020.

Speaking at an event organised to mark the occasion, Gazimağusa Mayor Süleyman Uluçay presented gifts to the Duran couple who were the first to enter the area three years ago.

Also speaking, President Ersin Tatar said that the Maraş initiative had been a significant achievement for the economy and tourism of the TRNC.

Emphasizing that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is a sovereign state, Tatar underlined that the Maraş opening was not contrary to international law.

Tatar noted that the visitor count, which reached 1.4 million despite the pandemic, is a very important figure.

He also reminded that the initiative to reopen the town for tourists had been the product of long years of unsuccessful attempts to secure an agreement on the island with the Greek Cypriot side despite the Turkish Cypriot side’s constructive stance.

Touching upon the issue of property in the fenced-off town, Tatar reiterated that the Immovable Property Commission (IPC) had received dozens of applications from former Greek Cypriot residents and property owners as well as the Cyprus Religious Foundation, the Vakıflar Administration.

The fenced-off town, once referred to as the jewel of the Mediterranean continues to attract hundreds of visitors, both foreign and domestic, particularly on weekends.