The South is Dead, Long Live the North

awellwisher


Joined: 12/04/2009
Posts: 28

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 17:53

On a recent journey over the border into Ledra Street in South Nicosia I could not help but notice the lack of people; the street was almost deserted.



Then we went to a coffe bar and the reason became apparent, one coffee was 4 Euro's. Needless to say we quickly went back to the North for lunch.



A few days later in Larnaca we were charged 13 Euro's for three coffees and one cup of tea. All cafe prices looked horrendous, the only place we found a fairly priced meal was McDonalds.



The waiters and airport staff were surly. One English Greek Cypriot lady told us in no uncertain terms that we had no right using Larnaca airport if we loved the Turks so much that we holiday with them in Kyrenia.



So, I know that it is a pain sitting on the plane in Istanbul when it touches down but I think that it is far better than giving trade to people who make no effort to provide a reasonable service at a fair price.

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 17:57

Thats why we dont go south only in an emergancy

skybluesam


Joined: 24/12/2008
Posts: 447

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 17:58

Could not agrre more Mate!, we walked over at Locmaci to go to Debenhams and were astounded at prices in the South, got back over the North to have lunch at El Sabor in the square, now that's what I call service and value!!

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 18:05

Have never understood why so many people support the South, If you live here shop here

jimmy


Joined: 15/09/2008
Posts: 251

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 18:05

couldn't agree more





Carrefour is horrendously expensive now & shopping in the south is a waste of time food wise. They wanted 3.25 euro's for 10 eggs !!! I rekon that they are on average 50% more expensive than he north..................4 rechargeable AA batteries were 10 euro's at homebase - you would get them for half that in the UK including delivery.





You would think you were on the French Rivieara judging by some of the prices.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 18:33

19 million Euros was spent in the South by people living in the North (for the last year). I have no idea what VAT is on goods in the TRNC, but lets say it is 20%. If so, the TRNC may have lost something like 3.8 million Euros in tax revenue.



Of course, GC's spent money in the North (a lower amount than TC spend in the South). If most of this was spent in the casinos can the TRNC government expect to see any revenue from this? Also people living in the North may have to pay import tax when they exceed duty levels.



Be curious to know what the actual rate of VAT is in the TRNC?

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 18:59

The general level of VAT in TRNC is 16%

ismet

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 19:08

Thanks ismet

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 19:14

Msg 6



I would suggest that the expatriate community based in TRNC spend more in the South than TC's and given that income from expats (in the main) is derived from outside TRNC, I fail to see how this really hurts the economy. We are not wanted here anyway so I cannot see the Government bleating about such figures.



Richard

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 19:32

We shop in the South on a regular basis and to be honest some things are more expensive in the South than the North and vice versa. I think that the surliness referred to in message 1 is a 'cypriot' thing as I have experienced exactly the same treatment both in Lemar at Karakum and Carrefoure in Nicosia. Whereas I will always try and get what I need here in the North, if I can't find it, or know that it is substantially cheaper in the South, then that is where I go.



Market forces will always dictate.



Regards



Paul



Paul

catalkoykid


Joined: 15/02/2009
Posts: 1190

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 19:32

The waiters and airport staff were surly. One English Greek Cypriot lady told us in no uncertain terms that we had no right using Larnaca airport if we loved the Turks so much that we holiday with them in Kyrenia









I have traveled from laranca never had no probs, how do they no you had a holiday in kyrenia ? and as for the price in the south its in the euro dont you read the papers or watch the news

stockiefan


Joined: 04/05/2009
Posts: 574

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 20:19

I travel between Larnaca and Jordan on average every six weeks for the last 21 months, no problems whatso ever, should make a huge difference when the new airport opens next week.

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 21:25

I will support the North everyday of the week but......

Have you tried to book a CTA flight to Ercan for next year you may as well forget it and I have had to book to fly to Larnaca much to my annoyance.

Hector


Joined: 26/08/2008
Posts: 2352

Message Posted:
04/11/2009 22:40

"Have you tried to book a CTA flight to Ercan for next year you may as well forget it and I have had to book to fly to Larnaca much to my annoyance."



I've yet to do so but hope there wont be a problem. What's wrong?

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 08:18

Although Catalkoykid is right, we have only ever used Larnaca once and we had no problems, we normally use Ercan.

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 08:35

We always fly from the South because we find that we get a much wider choice of airlines, departure dates etc. Invariably, our flights always work out cheaper than they would from the North. We are going back to UK around Xmas from Paphos and it is costing us the princely sum of £230 for two return flights to Manchester including all taxes and 20kg each of baggage. Like catalkoy and Dee, I have never experienced any problems flying from the South.



Paul

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 10:50

Turtle

i booked flights for my son, daughter-in-law and grandson last week from CTA 2-16th June Price was £503 inclusive Manchester to Ercan. I thought these were great prices. I flew August 2005 Ercan to Glasgow and the cost was £299 return.

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 11:27

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=48655&cat_id=1

JohhnyLee


Joined: 25/04/2009
Posts: 2495

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 17:18

I will no doubt upset a few people, But I say, Close the borders, stuff the EU, and the Euro, and long live TRNC, as we know it. Oh and while wer,e at it stop wasting time on talking about a reunification.

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 17:31

If the GCs were to pay VAT/KDV on their visits to the nightclubs then TRNC would really be in the money!

Ditto gambling tax at the casinos.

awellwisher


Joined: 12/04/2009
Posts: 28

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 18:34

Catalkoykid suggested that it is the Euro that is the problem and of course to some extent he is correct. But, even in Alicante they charge at the most 3 Euro's for a coffee. At 4 Euro's even when the Euro was £0.74 p it would still be 30% more expensive than the UK at present.

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 18:44

I check dates/prices on the CTA website regualrly and there is never 'not available'. Prices can vary immensely, think it depends on the time of day!



I priced a Turkish flight from Manchester leaving Nov 13 at £226, with only an hour stopover at Ataturk. Thats a little cheaper than fiendishpaul's £230 and you get 23kg allowance. On top of that you dont have the hassle, expense and inconvenience of getting to/from Larnaca.



I do agree with those above who say that if you live or holiday in TRNC you should support its economy. I visited supermarkets in Greek Nicosia in September and just could not believe the high prices. Had an icecream in Ledra Street that worked out at £4 for a cornet. If had been paying the icecream would have stayed in the shop.



Most of the people I saw in the Ledra Street area were not Cypriots, probably ex-pat workers.