Antalya: Russian groups boost tourism sector in Turkey

One week after the resumption of charter flights between Russia and Turkey (August 10), 111,000 Russian tourists visited Antalya, statistics of Antalya International Airport said.

According to Bilgikhan Yilmaz, director-general of the weather center, 60% of all travelers in Antalya are Russians.

"We expect 1.8 million Russians to come to Turkey this year," informed Firuz Baglikaya, president of the Union of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB).

Rajab Yavuz, chairman of the working group on tourism of the Antalya City Council, noted that if there is no force majeure, this year, Antalya will receive 4-4.5 million foreign tourists, and the majority of them will be about 2-2.5 million Russians.