ID :
127843
Mon, 06/14/2010 - 17:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/127843
The shortlink copeid
TURKEY TO HOST ONE MILLION ARAB TOURISTS IN 2010
ANTALYA (A.A) - 14.06.2010 - Turkish tourism officials expect nearly one million Arab tourists to visit Turkey until the end of 2010.
Speaking to reporters in the Mediterranean province of Antalya on Monday, Turgut Gur, the head of Turkish Tourism Investors' Association (TYD), said that Turkey's lifting visa procedures with several Arab countries boosted the country's tourism.
Noting he expected numerous Arab visitors in Turkey's southern provinces, Gur said, "I expect a million Arab tourists until the end of this year. There is a remarkable interest in Turkey".
Gur said the number of Arab tourists visiting Turkey increased by 37 percent in March 2010 and by 44 percent in April 2010.
Upon a question on whether there had been a pause in the flow of Israeli tourists to Turkey after Israel's recent deadly attack on aid ships, Gur said there had been a certain decrease in the number of Israeli visitors, stating nearly 50,000 bookings had been cancelled until the end of this season.
Gur said Turkey might have lost numerous Israeli tourists, but it expected a million Arab visitors and estimated a rise in its tourism incomes.
"We expect a total of 30 million tourists to visit Turkey this year. We also estimate a tourism income of almost 23 billion USD," he noted.
Speaking to reporters in the Mediterranean province of Antalya on Monday, Turgut Gur, the head of Turkish Tourism Investors' Association (TYD), said that Turkey's lifting visa procedures with several Arab countries boosted the country's tourism.
Noting he expected numerous Arab visitors in Turkey's southern provinces, Gur said, "I expect a million Arab tourists until the end of this year. There is a remarkable interest in Turkey".
Gur said the number of Arab tourists visiting Turkey increased by 37 percent in March 2010 and by 44 percent in April 2010.
Upon a question on whether there had been a pause in the flow of Israeli tourists to Turkey after Israel's recent deadly attack on aid ships, Gur said there had been a certain decrease in the number of Israeli visitors, stating nearly 50,000 bookings had been cancelled until the end of this season.
Gur said Turkey might have lost numerous Israeli tourists, but it expected a million Arab visitors and estimated a rise in its tourism incomes.
"We expect a total of 30 million tourists to visit Turkey this year. We also estimate a tourism income of almost 23 billion USD," he noted.
