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Maneesh Bakshi
Doha
TURKISH Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is an ideal destination for Qatari nationals and expatriates to acquire quality education on a par with international standards in a peaceful, friendly and multicultural environment at an affordable fee and moderate living cost, according to Namik Cafer, acting representative of TRNC in Qatar.
Talking to Qatar Tribune recently, Cafer said,"Higher education and tourism are two pillars of TRNC's economy. Together, they contribute over 40 percent revenue of the state's economy. There are 14 universities currently offering a wide range of courses in English language and constitute around 20 percent of the GDP."
He added,"These universities are accredited to most of the American, British and EU certified universities. Our tuition fees are affordable and living cost is moderate. Besides, our education system is similar to that of Turkey, which brings thousands of students from Turkey to seek education in Northern Cyprus."
According to Cafer, the population of TRNC stands at 300,000. Out of this, 100,000 are students studying in different educational institutions on the island. There are around 50,000 Turkish students who come to seek admissions in TRNC universities.
He added that there are around 14,000 local Cypriot students and others coming from various nationalities, including many from the Gulf region, pointing out that students come from 131 countries and the teaching staff from 65 countries adding a rich diversity to the island.
Cafer said,"The government of TRNC promotes education as one of the eco-friendly means of tourism. The island nation provided peace, tranquility and the right kind of environment to students to acquire knowledge. Students have the opportunity to choose from the excellent facilities for social, cultural and sporting activities. Northern Cyprus offers rich historical and cultural diversity in a safe, warm and friendly environment. The government provides easy visa processing for the students and their families for hassle-free travelling to the island nation."
Talking about the security and safety of students in TRNC, Cafer said,"There is no security threat and the population is extremely tolerant to different beliefs and ethnic diversity that coexists. At the same time, universities do follow a selection criterion to make sure that genuinely interested students only come to the island for education."
He added that tourism industry is a big time contributor to the economy, providing as much as 20 percent of the GDP.
He also said,"Besides education, tourism attracts many holidaymakers to the island because of its natural beauty as well as its unique historical treasures since it lies on the crossroads of civilisations. The island is also the third biggest territory on the Mediterranean sea best known for its historical, cultural, natural, authentic and romantic holiday at any time of the year."
There are over 130 hotels with availability of around 22,000 rooms that include 17 hotels with five-star rating. Northern Cyprus also offers a special interest tourism that includes golf, scuba diving, hiking, cycling, yachting and ecotourism.
As an education hub with a convenient flying distance from the Middle East,the TRNC with its rich history has a lot to offer the people, Cafer concluded.
