This is what the Bold Leaders are all about!
Crossing to meet their friends
By Simon Bahceli
NEW RESEARCH into why Turkish Cypriots visit the south appears to have busted the myth that they cross mainly to earn money, pick up bargains and benefit from free health care.
“An increasing number of Turkish Cypriots are crossing to meet with Greek Cypriot friends,” said Muharrem Faiz, head of north-based market research outfit KADEM. The group also carries out the EU’s Eurobarometer survey in the north.
Faiz added that similar research undertaken just over a year ago found that only around six per cent of people questioned said they went south to meet friends. Today’s figure is nearly 15 per cent.
Asked the reason for the dramatic increase, Faiz said he believed it came partly as a result of an increase in the number of Turkish Cypriot children studying in the south.
“The children have friends they meet outside school hours, and often parents also become friends and begin meeting socially,” Faiz said, adding that many Turkish Cypriots now have a “regular social base” in the south.
Another surprise from KADEM’s research was that when Turkish Cypriots cross to go shopping, it is not to find cheaper products.
“We see from the figures that those who cross the most tend to come from the higher income group. This is because what they seeks is not cheap products but variety,” Faiz said. He added that Turkish Cypriots were also aware that the concept of consumer rights was more prevalent in the south.
“Overall, the shopping and leisure sector is more developed in the south, and this appeals to people from the north with a higher spending capacity.”
He added that wealthier Turkish Cypriots like to have days out in the south that include going shopping and eating out.
“It is the more modern lifestyle experience that people like these days, and it is harder to find in the north,” Faiz explained.
Also shattered is the myth that it is Turkish Cypriot workers that use the crossings most frequently. According to Faiz’s research which questioned 1,144 Turkish Cypriots in face-to-face interviews, only eight per cent of those crossing did so for this reason.
Perhaps the most positive result to come out of KADEM’s research was that out of the thousand questioned, only one person said they had encountered hostility from Greek Cypriots during their visits to the south.
“One person said they got into an argument with a cashier at one outlet in the south,” Faiz said.
Interestingly, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris, which paid for the research, chose not to mention this.
Age also has a marked influence on those who cross, with younger age groups venturing south significantly more often. According to the data, almost 38 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds cross regularly, as do 29 per cent of 25 to 34 year olds. The figures decrease steadily with increasing age.
But it is not all good news. Over 18 per cent of those living in the north said they had never been south. However this is hardly surprising considering 20 per cent said they were not allowed to cross because they were of mainland Turkish origin.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009
By Simon Bahceli
NEW RESEARCH into why Turkish Cypriots visit the south appears to have busted the myth that they cross mainly to earn money, pick up bargains and benefit from free health care.
“An increasing number of Turkish Cypriots are crossing to meet with Greek Cypriot friends,” said Muharrem Faiz, head of north-based market research outfit KADEM. The group also carries out the EU’s Eurobarometer survey in the north.
Faiz added that similar research undertaken just over a year ago found that only around six per cent of people questioned said they went south to meet friends. Today’s figure is nearly 15 per cent.
Asked the reason for the dramatic increase, Faiz said he believed it came partly as a result of an increase in the number of Turkish Cypriot children studying in the south.
“The children have friends they meet outside school hours, and often parents also become friends and begin meeting socially,” Faiz said, adding that many Turkish Cypriots now have a “regular social base” in the south.
Another surprise from KADEM’s research was that when Turkish Cypriots cross to go shopping, it is not to find cheaper products.
“We see from the figures that those who cross the most tend to come from the higher income group. This is because what they seeks is not cheap products but variety,” Faiz said. He added that Turkish Cypriots were also aware that the concept of consumer rights was more prevalent in the south.
“Overall, the shopping and leisure sector is more developed in the south, and this appeals to people from the north with a higher spending capacity.”
He added that wealthier Turkish Cypriots like to have days out in the south that include going shopping and eating out.
“It is the more modern lifestyle experience that people like these days, and it is harder to find in the north,” Faiz explained.
Also shattered is the myth that it is Turkish Cypriot workers that use the crossings most frequently. According to Faiz’s research which questioned 1,144 Turkish Cypriots in face-to-face interviews, only eight per cent of those crossing did so for this reason.
Perhaps the most positive result to come out of KADEM’s research was that out of the thousand questioned, only one person said they had encountered hostility from Greek Cypriots during their visits to the south.
“One person said they got into an argument with a cashier at one outlet in the south,” Faiz said.
Interestingly, Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris, which paid for the research, chose not to mention this.
Age also has a marked influence on those who cross, with younger age groups venturing south significantly more often. According to the data, almost 38 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds cross regularly, as do 29 per cent of 25 to 34 year olds. The figures decrease steadily with increasing age.
But it is not all good news. Over 18 per cent of those living in the north said they had never been south. However this is hardly surprising considering 20 per cent said they were not allowed to cross because they were of mainland Turkish origin.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009
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