The number of GCC tourists visiting Turkey increased by 16.45 per cent in 2009, said a recent report regarding the global travel and tourism industry. According to the details, more than 27 million tourists from around the world visited Turkey in 2009, with GCC tourists comprising a large part of this figure.
Emin Kaya, the cultural and information attaché in Dubai and the Turkish Tourism Office manager in the UAE, expects these figures will increase even further despite the global financial meltdown. "We realise the cultural and religious values of the GCC people which sustain the strong relationships between Turkey and the GCC countries," he said. "Our marketing and promotional strategies during 2010 will include various activities and events in order to attract more tourists to choose Turkey for their next holiday plans.