Calls for urban planning in Rizokarpaso following tourism facility demolitions

Firat Borak, president of the Turkish Cypriot Association for Environmental Protection and Social Activity in Rizokarpaso, has called for the immediate creation of a formal urban plan for the occupied Rizokarpaso region. This demand follows recent state-ordered demolitions of unauthorized tourism structures, including bungalows, wooden houses, and restaurants in the Karpasia peninsula, specifically near the Golden Beach and the local national park.

In a written statement issued on October 14, 2026, Borak argued that the primary issue is not the judicial rulings behind the demolitions, but the long-term governance of the region through temporary decrees rather than a structured urban plan. He emphasized that existing facilities must be redesigned to meet legal standards to protect the area's natural, historical, and cultural integrity. Borak suggested implementing pilot zones for future construction to prevent further economic harm to the local tourism sector. He stressed that without a sustainable planning framework, the region faces significant economic and environmental risks.