Turkey, Philippines ink tourism agreement

ISTANBUL- Anadolu Agency

AA photo

Turkey and the Philippines have signed an agreement to increase cooperation in culture and tourism.

Speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony in Istanbul on Feb. 16, Culture and Tourism Minister Nabi Avcı said the two countries had the potential to boost tourism not only through bilateral projects but also through joint projects with third countries.    

“Especially after the opening of [Istanbul’s] third airport, we will have the chance to host our guests from the Philippines traveling to Europe and Africa,” Avcı said, adding that he was planning to visit the Philippines in the summer.      

Currently under construction, Istanbul’s third airport is expected to start operating by February 2018 with a capacity of up to 200 million passengers a year.      

Philippines’ Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo Teo expressed her hope that the agreement will encourage more people from Turkey and the Philippines to visit their respective countries.     

“I hope to see the minister in the Philippines in the near future and I hope he will bring some investors and tour operators with him,” she added.     

According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, 70,000 Philippine tourists visited Turkey in 2014.