Calls for urban planning in Karpasia following tourism building demolitions

Firat Borak, president of the Turkish Cypriot environmental protection and social activity association of Rizokarpaso, has called for the immediate implementation of a formal urban plan for the Karpasia region. This demand follows recent court-ordered demolitions of unauthorized tourism structures, including bungalows, wooden houses, and restaurants, in the Golden Beach and national park areas. Borak stated that the lack of a structured urban plan, with the region long managed only by ad-hoc decrees, is the fundamental issue rather than the legal rulings themselves.

Borak emphasized that the priority should be to formalize existing buildings and integrate them into a legal framework. He suggested identifying pilot areas for future development, ensuring that any future building permits are granted with a strict focus on preserving the area's natural, historical, and cultural values. He warned that failure to establish such a plan would negatively impact the local economy and tourism sector in Karpasia. The call highlights ongoing tensions regarding land use and development regulation in the occupied territory of the Karpas peninsula.