Working on the Other Side. Cooperative Tour Organizers and Uncooperative Hoteliers: Evidence from Greek Cypriot Tourism Professionals

In this research, the authors investigate the willingness of the Greek Cypriot tourism professionals to cooperate with the Turkish Cypriot counterparts in the industry. The analytical framework draws on the literature on the conflict in Cyprus, in general, and on the conflict and its impact on tourism, in particular. A few hypotheses are explored relating to what influences the tourism professionals towards cooperating with the Turkish Cypriots: their refugee experience, their increased level of contact with Turkish Cypriots, the size of the organization in which they work and the location and nature of these organizations. The data are based on a series of interviews on the support for cooperation between the tourism professionals among the Greek Cypriots. The findings show that there is clear evidence that the Greek Cypriot hotel managers are unlikely at present to cooperate with the Turkish Cypriot counterparts. On the other hand, the Greek Cypriot tour operators and tourist agencies are willing to collaborate with the other side. This paper follows with a case study of a Greek Cypriot tour-operating company which collaborates with the other side. It is suggested that policies could be designed that aim at the reconciliation of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots through the introduction of political correctness in the business, which is one of the theatres on which the Cyprus conflict is staged.