Turkey eyes drawing more tourists from ASIA

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkey can do more to draw tourists from the Far East within its new economic program, a high tourism official told state-run Anadolu Agency on Sept. 22.

“Tourism professionals will work on the Far East market so as to attract more tourists from those countries,” said Firuz Bağlıkaya, head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB).

The new economic program, unveiled by Finance and Treasury Minister Berat Albayrak on Sept. 20, says Turkey will draft new plans to attract tourists from Far East countries such as for example China, India, Japan, and South Korea.

The true amount of tourists visiting Turkey from those countries jumped 72. 5 percent year-on-year to 440 nearly, of the year 000 in the initial seven months, in accordance with data published by Anadolu Agency.

“Year the spending of visitors from China last, India, Japan, and South Korea — considered higher-end tourists — reached $325 billion,” said Bağlıkaya.

He said representatives of the Turkish tourism sector will attend workshops in six provinces in India in the initial week of October.

“November in, Indian wedding planning companies will visit Istanbul,” he said.

Bağlıthat December China Southern Airlines is because of launch thrice-weekly service to Turkey kaya added.

“The only real obstacle inside our tourism relations with Far Eastern countries was transportation,” he said.

Under this program, tourism services, including health tourism, will undoubtedly be diversified to improve tourism revenues, as the program aims to create travel income of $42 billion by 2021.

In the initial half of this season, over 17 million foreigners visited Turkey and spent some $11.5 billion. Year last, Turkey’s tourism income totaled $26.2 billion, while visitors numbered 38.6 million.

Turkish tourism, Indian wedding, Far East

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