Turkey’s tourism industry has recorded a revenue of $13.78 billion in the first half of the year, a six per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

The number of tourists visiting Turkey has also noticeably increased to 13.7 million, as compared to 12.9 million for the same period last year, said a statement.

The visitors from the Gulf region increased, with a total of 60,262 tourists from May to July this year, up 78 per cent from the same period last year, it said.

These tourists were predominately from Kuwait, followed by UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, said the statement.

The religious festival of Eid Al Adha, which falls on October 4 and continues for four days, is expected to bring a huge number of visitors from the Gulf region and around the world, with tourism facilities’ occupancy climbing to full capacity, it said.

Turkey’s strong Islamic heritage together with its beautiful cities, historic landmarks, rich culture and traditions make it a very appealing destination for Muslims to celebrate Eid Al Adha, it added. - TradeArabia News Service