the Number of Russian tourists arriving in Turkey will reach 4 million
The number of Russian tourists arriving in Turkey could hit 4 million with the opening of the borders between the two countries, Russian media reported Wednesday.
Turkey has been the destination for which Russians have made the highest number of reservations in recent weeks, according to a report in the Russian language daily Kommersant. The country has also been searched for the most on websites of Russian tour operators, it said.
Turkey’s Transport and Infrastructure Ministry last week said Ankara and Moscow have agreed to resume flights following three and a half months of suspension due to the coronavirus outbreak, in a decision highly sought by the Turkish tourism industry. Flights resumed as of July 15.
Some 7 million Russians visited Turkey last year, the report recalled, adding the number could hit 4 million this year following the resumption of flights between the two countries.
Since mid-May, immediately after the first relaxation steps in Russia, Aviasales users have started to actively search for the possibility of flying to Turkey via Belarus.
Russians are interested in flights to Istanbul, Antalya, Dalaman, Izmir and Bodrum, although there are no direct flights to these Turkish destinations yet.
Russian citizens topped the list and accounted for 15.6%, or 7 million, of all arrivals in Turkey in 2019, according to the Culture and Tourism Ministry.
