Turkish government aims to boost tourism

Monday March 31st , 2008

The Turkish government is calling for the country to boost its market share in the global tourism industry, it has been reported.

According to Today's Zaman, Turkey was rated as one of the world's top ten holiday destinations last year.

However, culture and tourism minister Ertugrul Gunay has said he wants it to be in the top five by 2013.

He stated that in order to achieve this goal, it will be necessary to market Turkey as a "prestigious" place to visit.

Mr Gunay added that the amenities and facilities in the biggest tourist hotspots must work at peak efficiency and be in full working order.

He commented: "Antalya alone hosts as many tourists as Egypt and must therefore experience no problems in its infrastructure and environment."

TurkishPress.com recently cited official data showing that the country has attracted more than 1.6 million holidaymakers during the year so far.