ANTALYA, Turkey
A group of 30 Russian tourists were left stranded at Antalya airport after their Russian tour company went bankrupt.
The tour group, who arrived in Antalya, Turkey on August 2 for a ten day holiday in one of Turkey's popular beach holiday destinations, could not be accommodated in their hotel and were left stranded at the airport.
When the tourists arrived at their hotel to check in, they were appalled to discover from hotel officials that they could not be accommodated as their hotel fees were not paid by the tour company which went bankrupt.
The desperate tourists faced only with the possibility of returning to their country, discovered they could not find a flight back either because all flights were fully booked.
Anadolu Agency correspondent explained the tourists have resorted to sleeping on benches at the airport and are meeting their food needs from airport markets while waiting for a solution to their plight.
Russian tourist, Elmira Ashanulina, told Anadolu Agency their holiday will finish on August 12 and explained they are waiting on Russian authorities for help.
"Russian authorities also failed to help us and we will have to wait until August 12 if we are not helped," Ashanulina said.
Mehmet Yavuz, a Turkish official from Antalya airport, confirmed the problem was due to the Russian-based tour company and they are trying to help the stranded tourists return to their country.
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