The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has been handed over the term presidency of the World Health Tourism Council at a ceremony held at the Vuni Palace Hotel Congress Centre in Girne.

Representatives of 14 countries attended the ceremony where Dr. Ahmet Savaşan was handed the presidency on behalf of the TRNC.

Representatives from the US, Azerbaijan, Belgium, China, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

Present at the ceremony were Prime Minister Ünal Üstel, Deputy Prime Minister-Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu, Foreign Minister Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu and Health Minister İzlem Gürçağ.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said that despite the attempts to unjustly isolate the TRNC and sever its ties with the world, the country has been collaborating in various aspects of life, including tourism, education, and health, with over a hundred countries.

He emphasized that taking over the presidency of the World Health Tourism Council will not only increase the international visibility of the TRNC but also facilitate the development of mutual cooperation with member countries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth, and Environment, Fikri Ataoğlu, also emphasized in his speech that the handover ceremony will hold significant importance in the history of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

He highlighted the substantial contributions of Dr. Ahmet Savaşan during his tenure as Vice President of the World Health Tourism Council since 2018, both in the TRNC and globally, towards the development of health tourism.

Ataoğlu emphasized the need to enhance collaboration among member countries during the TRNC presidency and provide the necessary support for international health tourism investments in Northern Cyprus.

Minister of Health, İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra, underlined that the TRNC is a preferred country in the fields of tourism and education worldwide, thanks to the quality services it offers to tourists from all around the world, exceeding its threefold population, and the high-quality education provided to approximately 100,000 international students.

Altuğra stressed that the TRNC possesses the necessary characteristics to thrive in health tourism, including its investments in healthcare and its touristic wealth. She stated that the Ministry of Health will take the necessary steps for further development of Health Tourism in Northern Cyprus.

Dr. Ahmet Savaşan stated that the World Health Tourism Council is a multinational organization that provides leadership and support to the sector, promoting the advancement of health tourism policies, advocating responsible health tourism, and encouraging health tourism as a driving force for economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability on an international level.

Savaşan said that they will be working to establish sincere relations with each of the 55 member countries in health tourism and other areas of life on behalf of the TRNC, making it known to the world.