7th Mediterranean tourism forum to open in Turkey

ANKARA (AA) - Tourism leaders from around the Mediterranean are to meet in the southern Turkish province of Mersin on Wednesday.

The three-day Mediterranean Tourism Forum (MEDITOUR 2016) is organized by the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) and the Mersin Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MTSO).

"The event is the largest forum of the tourism industry in the region, and will explore the tourism sector, at large and, more specifically, the need to strengthen cooperation between countries of the two shores of the Mediterranean," an ASCAME statement read.

"And MEDITOUR provides a unique regional platform to learn about less renowned tourist destinations in the region with great economic potential," it added.

The number of international tourist arrivals worldwide increased by 4.4 percent in 2015 to reach a total of 1,184 million. The Mediterranean attracted more than 30 percent of this total, according to long-term forecasts of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

"This number will reach 500 million in 2030. This regional upward trend in the sector is contributing notably to economic growth and development of the Mediterranean. It is therefore necessary to further endorse this industry, in an innovative, sustainable and cooperative manner," the ASCAME said.

Mediterranean tourism is estimated to increase between 2 and 5 percent this year, according to the ASCAME.

"These figures demonstrate the region’s strong ability to adapt to changes in the global competitive market. In Turkey, the importance of tourism is evident, making the country the sixth most visited in the world," it said.