According to information made public yesterday by the Cypriot credit card clearing house JCC, Greek Cypriot expenditure in the occupied areas sums up to millions of euros. During the first three months of 2012, at least 2621 Greek Cypriots travelled to Turkey via the occupied areas aboard Turkish or Turkish Cypriot airlines through the illegal Ercan airport. During that period 556000 euro was spent by credit card for purchases of airline tickets while more than one million euro was spent in casinos and other entertainment. More than 300000 euro was spent for shopping including clothing, supermarket and other household goods while over 700000 were spent at hotels.

Keep in mind that these figures don’t take into account cash payments but only expenditure made using credit cards meaning the actual values are much higher.