(Istanbul-NewsHalal, Rabi`I 21, 1437, January 1, 2016) The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry prepared a draft action plan for the tourism industry in order to minimize the effects of the crisis with Russia.
According to the plan reported by Turkish media, the scope of the fuel oil support amounting to $6,000 for charter airlines, to be implemented between March 1 – June 15, 2016, will be extended to include flights to 12 more countries: The U.K., Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland.
Accordingly, charter airlines carrying tourists to the Antalya, Alanya Gazipaşa, Dalaman, Bodrum-Milas and Izmir Adnan Menderes airports will qualify for this support, while the current fuel oil support to Russia will continue.
Due to crisis in middle east and conflict with Russia, Turkish tourism sector is suffering decline in the number of tourists.
Basaran Ulusoy, the president of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB), quoted by Turkish media as saying that the Turkey’s tourism sector is having difficulty turning toward non-Russian markets to secure prospective plans with new markets, as it took for granted the stream of Russian tourists who flowed into the country year-to-year, adding that the sector will fill in the gap caused by recent Russian sanctions by opening up to new markets.
Russian travel agencies are now reportedly suspending sales of all products that have any relation to Turkey’s tourism sector, banning Russian citizens from purchasing products related with travel in a rift of sanctions handed down to Turkey by the Moscow administration. Istanbul is expecting about 40 percent drop this year in the number of Russian tourists.
Turkey is one of the most favorite travel destinations for Russian tourists. A ban imposed by Russian authorities is also expected to cause severe effects on Russian tourism sector. Travel agencies in Moscow rising concerns of huge losses as they were largely dependent on tour packages to Turkey.
Despite Russian sanctions, it is expected that the Muslims from Russia will travel to Turkey as usual as Halal foods and services sector of the country attract them to visit Turkey.
