DUBAI: Turkey, which has been enjoying outstanding reputation as the most favorite travel destination in many countries of the world during the last year, is making another strong presence this year at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2011. ATM is the Middle East premium event for travel and tourism trade. Turkey’s participation follows considerable growth in its tourism sector during the past few years, not only in the context of tourist arrivals from the GCC countries, but from the entire world.
Taking the Middle East in consideration, and as a comparison between years 2009and 2010, the number of tourists visited Turkey from Syria has increased from 390,000 to 748,000. Turkey also has won the most of admire by the Lebanese tourists who have increased from 62,573 to 113,212 tourists. From Saudi Arabia, tourists were increase from 59,954 to 76,152 and from Jordan, number of tourists was increased from 62,573 to 85,988 tourists. Iran has increased from 1,150,000 to 1,649,000 tourists, according to Turkish Consulate in an emailed release.Sedat Gonulluoglu, Cultural & Information Attach at the Turkish Tourism & Cultural Office in Dubai, stated that the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has a long term strategy to promote Turkey’s unique opportunities of multi tourism purposes, which meets the demands of eastern and western tourists at the same time. “Turkey aims to occupy the first position in making the health tourism industry by year 2023. By having over 1500 medical and therapy centers spread out everywhere in the country, Turkey would be an ideal country for multipurpose visits”.From around the world, various studies and surveys have shown Turkey as the most favorite travel destination or the Turkish cities within the top ten destinations. In Moscow, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry announced that Turkey’s stand at the 18th Moscow International Travel and Tourism (MITT) exhibition, which was held in the Russian capital from 16 – 20 March, 2011, was chosen as the “Best Stand” at this world’s seventh biggest tourism fair. Turkey’s Kemer town was chosen as “the Best Tourism Destination”, Alanya town was chosen as “the Best Family and Children’s Destination” while the Amara Dolce Vite Hotel in Kemer was chosen as “the Best Beach Hotel of Turkey” in a survey conducted by Russian tourism portal Zvezda Travel.ru In Czech Republic, Turkey has been selected as the most popular travel destination in 2010 by the readers of TTG Travel Magazine. Turkey’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, has also been selected as the third Best Airlines of 2010 at TTG Travel Awards Ceremony held February 12 at the Best Western Hotel Kampa, Prague.In the USA, readers of the U.S. daily “The New York Times” have named the Turkish city of Istanbul as their favorite travel destination for 2010.According to the online travel advisors travelsupermarket.com, Turkey was on the top of the list as “all-inclusive-destinations”, where all travel, accommodation, food, drink, entertainment, and activities are included in one price.The number of tourists arrived at Turkey between January and October 2010 is 25,975,000 tourists with an increase by 6.25% compared to the same period of year 2009. According to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the highest figures came from Germany, 3,987,000 tourists, Russia, 2,996,000 tourists, and England, 2,592,000 tourists.
© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.
via Turkey Continues to Target the Region’s Travelers – Travel & Tourism – Zawya.