Turkey considers regional tour package for US tourists

By Levent Kisi

ANTALYA, Turkey (AA) - Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Nabi Avci on Monday underlined the importance of tour packages for American tourists who want to visit the Mediterranean regions.

Speaking to foreign journalists at the International Media Forum 2017 in the Turkish Mediterranean resort province of Antalya, Avci noted that preparing a common tour package along with regional countries would be a significant development.

“It could be a serious development if we can include Greece, Egypt, Spain and Italy in the [project],” he said, adding that Israel was also willing to join such an exclusive tour package.

Avci noted that Turkey should turn to alternative markets rather than depend on markets such as Russia or Germany.

The Middle East has become a new market for the Turkish tourism sector, he added, saying that Arabs choose Turkey for its proximity, quality of service and reasonable prices.

“Turkey is a country as safe as Germany, France, Belgium and the United States,” he said. “Turkey is one of the safest countries in the world."

He went on to blame western media for focusing excessively on terror attacks in Turkey, saying terrorism was affecting the entire world.