‘We expect to host up to 33 mln tourists,’ Turkish minister says

ANKARA – Anatolia News Agency

Ertuğrul Günay. AA photo

Culture & Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay has said Turkey is expecting to host up to 33 million tourists in 2012, despite a fall in visitors coming from Israel and Syria.

Speaking to the Anatolia news agency yesterday, Günay said that while tourism would be influenced by the economic crisis in Europe and the problems in the Middle East, Turkey was still expecting to host 21-33 million tourists this year.

Over $25 billion is expected to be earned from tourism, Günay said, adding that Turkey hosted 31.4 million tourists in 2011. According to figures released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), Turkey earned $23 billion from tourism last year, he said.