Hot air balloon rides in Cappadocia suspended for three days

NEVŞEHİR

Authorities in Cappadocia, one of Turkey’s most attractive tourist destinations, have suspended hot air balloon rides until the weekend due to strong winds.

The private firms organizing the rides announced that severe weather conditions caused by winds led to the cancellation of hot air balloon rides on Oct. 24, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The winds are expected to continue on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26.

Hot air balloon rides are expected to resume on Oct. 27, according to the report.

Some 27 registered hot air balloon firms are supervised by the Civil Aviation Directorate which gives the permission for the takeoffs.

Cappadocia is one of the world’s most active hot air balloon hubs.

The number of tourists that took part in hot air balloon tours in the skies of Cappadocia in the Central Anatolian province of Nevşehir increased by 87 percent to 226,000 people in the first half of this year compared to the same period of 2017.

Balloon tours had be to cancelled for 81 days in the first six months of the year due to bad weather conditions, but flights continued in the remaining 100 days in the Göreme region.

Cappadocia region is also famous for its fairy chimneys, natural rock formations, underground cities, historical churches and boutique hotels built into caves.