Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated that the number of tourists coming to Antalya this year exceeded 15 million and said, "Both the income and the number of tourists are above the figures of 2019, when tourism was at its peak before the pandemic. This is very pleasing."
Ersoy, who was in the city for the Antalya Cultural Road Festival, told the AA correspondent that according to 9-month data, a figure of 42 billion dollars was reached in tourism across Turkey, and progress was made towards the income target of 55.6 billion dollars for the end of the year.
"Reminding us that events such as the earthquakes on February 6 and Israel's attack on Palestine occurred after this target was announced, Ersoy said, 'Although we have experienced many negative effects one after another, we are managing the medium-term program appropriately. In this respect, it is pleasing. When we consider Antalya overall, the number of visitors exceeded 15 million as of yesterday. Both income and the number of tourists are higher than in 2019 when tourism was at its peak before the pandemic.' This is very pleasing."
Reminding that they set a qualified transition target regarding tourism in 2018, Ersoy said that the figures show that this target is being progressed with firm steps.
Pointing out that there has been a significant increase in tourism revenues, Ersoy said, "Night spending per person, which was 67 dollars at the end of 2017, reached 100 dollars when we look at the figures announced last year. This shows that the process is developing in accordance with our policies and strategies. "This makes us very happy."
Stating that the sector is affected positively or negatively by every event, Ersoy noted that they have been struggling with many crises since he took office.
Explaining that they encountered the Thomas Cook bankruptcy when he took office, and then the global epidemic, Ersoy emphasized that the Russia-Ukraine War, the earthquake that affected 11 provinces, and the election process took place. Pointing out that Turkey can be exposed to crises due to its geography, Ersoy said, "There were crises yesterday, there are crises today, there will be crises in the future. If we already know this reality, the important thing is to learn to live with this reality."
"We have become the country with the most intense and effective promotion in the world"
Reminding that they established the Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency in 2019 in order to make the sector stronger, 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 tourism-related problems, especially promotion. We manage this successfully. We are currently making intense 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 Turkey's tourism potential is invaluable. "Actually, we don't use all of them."
Stating that they are working intensively to extend tourism to 12 months and include every city in tourism, Ersoy added that they are taking steady steps towards the goal.