The number of tourists arriving in Antalya exceeded 15 million

The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, stated that the number of tourists who came to Antalya this year exceeded 15 million and said: “Both the revenue and the number of tourists are above the figures of 2019, when the Tourism was at its peak before the pandemic. . “This is very pleasant.” he said.

Ersoy, who was in the city for the Antalya Cultural Route Festival, said that according to nine-month data, a figure of 42 billion dollars in tourism was reached throughout Turkey and progress was made towards the revenue target. of 55.6 billion dollars by the end of the year.

Recalling that events such as the February 6 earthquakes and Israel’s attack on Palestine took place after the announcement of this goal, Ersoy said: “Although we have experienced many negative effects one after another, we are properly managing the program in the medium term. It is a pleasure in this sense. If we look at Antalya in general, yesterday the number of visitors exceeded 15 million. Both revenue and tourist numbers are above 2019, when tourism was at its peak before the pandemic. “This is very pleasant.” he said.

Noting that there has been a significant increase in tourism revenue, Ersoy said: “Nightly spending per person, which was $67 at the end of 2017, reached $100 when we look at the figures announced last year. This shows that the process is developed in accordance with our policies and strategies. “This makes us very happy.” She made his assessment.

Ersoy stated that the sector is affected positively or negatively by each event and noted that they have been struggling with many crises since he took office.

Explaining that they encountered the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook when he took office, and then the global epidemic, Ersoy emphasized that the war between Russia and Ukraine, the earthquake that affected 11 provinces, and the electoral process took place. Noting that Turkey may be exposed to crises due to its geography, Ersoy said: “There were crises yesterday, there are crises today and there will be crises in the future. If we already know this reality, the important thing is to learn to live with this reality.” he said.

‘WE DON’T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE TOURISM POTENTIAL’

Recalling that they established the Turkish Tourism Development and Promotion Agency in 2019 to strengthen the sector, Ersoy shared the following:

“The primary duty of the agency is to work together with the sector and the State to provide a quick solution to problems related to tourism, especially promotion. We manage it successfully. We are currently carrying out intensive and effective promotions in more than 200 countries. In a very short time we became the country with the most intense and effective promotion in the world. We already see the results of this in the number of tourists and their income. Is the process completed? No, we still have a lot of work to do. We need to work much harder, because Türkiye’s tourism potential is invaluable. “Actually, we don’t use all of them.”

Ersoy stated that they are working hard to extend tourism to 12 months and include all cities in tourism, adding that they are taking firm steps towards the goal. (AA)