-Turkey in the spotlight at Tourism Market in London
Over 50 Turkish tourism companies participated in the World Tourism Market 2018 in London, which attracted visitors from all around the world. Having left the country’s difficulties in the past, Turkey’s tourism is clearly enjoying a recent renaissance as millions of tourists have been drawn to its unique tourist destinations. Turkey’s choice of the U.K. and Germany as the primary target market and promotional hubs is well placed.
Speaking to representatives of the tourism sector, Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister said they would increase the ministry’s budget to promote Turkish tourism adding that, “the U.K. and Germany will be the main promotion points”.
Turkey will host around 50 million tourists in 2019, minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said on Monday.
Speaking at the opening of the travel trade show, Ersoy said the ministry projected an increase of between 30 and 35 percent in the number of British tourists visiting Turkey in 2018. “This target will be reached if bookings continue at the same pace,” he added.
Ersoy contended that the number of foreign tourists visiting Turkey would surpass the 40 million mark in 2018.
“I am expecting a 23 percent increase next year. I hope we will reach the target of 48 million [tourists],” he said.
Turkey’s tourism would further be promoted targeting Russian-speaking and Arabic countries, he asserted.
Underlining the recent agreement inked with Turkish Airlines, Ersoy said scheduled flights -- in addition to chartered flights -- to Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman Izmir would start in April 2019. This will complement the rising tide of Turkey’s tourism, which is already offering city breaks, cultural and health tourism in addition to mass tourism, he explained.
British tourists are also returning to Turkey as their favorite holiday destination with its affordability and prime accommodation choices. According to Turkey’s official data, in the first nine months of this year, the total number of British tourists traveling to Turkey rose by 35 percent to 1.9 million compared with the same period last year. The British tourist’s average spending in Turkey totals 580 pounds.
