Record number of tourists from Netherlands expected: Ambassador
Hakan Çelik - THE HAGUE
Some 30 Turkish institutions and tour operators were represented at the Utrecht Tourism Fair held between Jan. 9 and Jan. 13.
A record number of tourists are expected from the Netherlands this year due to the Dutch people’s positive perception of Turkey, Turkish Ambassador to The Hague Şaban Dişli told daily Posta on Jan. 15.
Speaking to Posta at the ambassador’s residence in The Hague, Dişli said Turkey’s image in the Netherlands has been positive especially in the recent months.
Dişli stressed that this could help increase the number of tourists from the country to Turkey. According to Dutch media, a 40 percent increase in the number of visitors is expected this year.
He said “a record can be broken this year” in terms of the flow of tourists from the Netherlands.
Thus, according to officials, 2019 has the potential to be “a year of success” between the two countries when Turkey’s $24 billion direct investment to Netherlands and $10 billion worth of enterprises of Turkish-Dutch investors are taken into account.
Dişli was appointed as ambassador in September 2018 after serving as an adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Relations between Turkey and the Netherlands had deteriorated in 2017 when the Dutch government barred Turkish government officials from entry to hold rallies for the Turkish diaspora in the country. Ties improved a year later, with both countries appointing ambassadors to normalize relations.
