Turkey has witnessed the number of GCC visitors reach 211,241 from January to October, marking a 39 per cent increase from the same period in 2013.

Turkey proved to be a popular choice for GCC tourists during the Eid Al Adha holiday in October, as the country attracted 22,322 visitors from the region during the month, according to a new report.

During the first ten months of this year, Turkey welcomed 120,632 Kuwaiti nationals – the highest showing in the region. It marks a 52 per cent increase from the 79,059 which visited during the same period last year. UAE came second with 43,469 tourists visiting the country, followed by 27,002 Qatari tourists.

On top of this tourism push, the country has also seen a wave of new interest from the investors looking for new opportunities. Between January and April, GCC investors bought $1.26 billion in real estate, according to figures from Turkey’s Ministry of Finance.

“The GCC currently contributes 5 per cent of Turkey’s tourism revenue, with Kuwait as the highest contributor, followed by the UAE. With expanded airline routes, it’s never been more convenient for tourists to discover and re-discover the various attractions on offer. We hope to build onto this momentum by investing in new projects and initiatives that will enhance our business and leisure offerings and facilities.” said Mustafa Ozdemir, cultural and information attaché, Turkish Consulate General Cultural and Information Office. – TradeArabia News Service