The number of tourists from the Gulf countries to Turkey is expected to increase substantially in 2010 on close cultural and geographical proximity and flexible visa requirements.
Emin Kaya, Turkish Cultural and Information Attache in Dubai and Turkish Tourism Office Manager in UAE, said that Turkey would attract more investors and tourists from the Gulf countries this year (2010), as reported by
Khaleej Times.
A large number of tourists from the Gulf countries visit Turkey every year and their number has been consistently soaring for last few years. The inflow of tourists from the Gulf countries could be analyzed from the fact that 2009 global financial crisis had no impact on the Turkish industry. In fact, the tourist arrivals from these countries surged 16.45% in 2009, while the global tourism industry slumped into recession.
Tourist arrivals from Kuwait to Turkey soared 21.36% in 2009, followed by Saudi Arabia with 20.31%. Tourist inflow from other GCC countries also flared up, with the UAE recording an increase of 12.07%, Bahrain (12.49%) and Qatar (0.82%).
The high contribution of GCC tourists to the Turkish tourism industry is based on the cultural and geographical closeness. GCC tourists also prefer to visit those countries that embrace their Islamic culture and Turkey has close proximity with the Islamic culture. Besides, flexible visa requirements and alienation of Arabs from the European countries following September 11 terrorist attack also contributed to growth of the Turkish tourism industry.
With high projection for tourist arrivals from the GCC region this year, Turkey is likely to welcome nearly 30 Million visitors in 2010. Such a stupendous number promises hefty revenue generation for the tourism industry.
The Turkish government is also devising promotional and marketing strategies for 2010 to include new events and activities so that more and more tourists come to the country for spending their holidays. The government has laid stress on cultural and heritage exhibitions, participation at Arab Travel Market Dubai, familiarization trips and dance shows and musical concerts in the GCC nations to spread awareness about the splendid culture and myriad of attractions among the tourists.
RNCOS, a leading market research firm, has said in its report “
Turkey Tourism Industry Forecast to 2012” that the growth in tourism industry will open new avenues of opportunities in related industries like restaurants and hotels. The report reveals that the hotel and restaurant spending will touch the level of US$ 32.3 Billion in 2010.
According to a Research Analyst at
RNCOS, “The exploration of new tourism areas like health & medical tourism, gulf tourism, yacht tourism, winter tourism and culture tourism will help the country to attract more tourists. The rising number of foreign visitors will be very beneficial for the industry in long run.”
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Vietnam Tourism Industry Forecast to 2012
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