Turkey popular with winter tourists

Turkey has seen a large increase in the number of visitors this month and it is set to set for tourism boom next year, according to tourism experts.

The Turkish Association of Travel Agents (TURSAB) claims that the nation's tourism sector is in good shape. Kerim Cavusoglu, president of TURSAB, told Todays Zaman that tourism activities in Turkey are recently boosted by the nine days of Eid al-Adha. He further added that the growth in the tourist trade in the winter season could make buying a property in Turkey a profitable venture for foreign investors.

The amount of holidaymakers deciding to take a break in the country has risen by 23 per cent this year. The number of the tourists visiting Turkey will be nine million by the end of this year which means a 1.4 million increase compared to last year.

Volkan Simsek, president of the Turkish Professional Hotel Managers Assembly has said that the domestic tourist industry is also being focused on by hotel owners, who are looking to boost the numbers who are coming through their doors. The Irish Independent has reported that Istanbul is particularly good place to visit at this time of the year. The publication described it one of the most beautiful cities in the world and a place which offers respite from the Christmas festivities at home.

Meanwhile, Property Wire recently stated that the cost of property is relatively low and bargains can still be found despite price hikes of up to 40 per cent in some areas of Turkey.