Tourism in Turkey

Turkey's tourism revenue dropped to $22.1 billion in 2016, a 29.7 percent decrease compared to 2015, as the number of foreign arrivals to the country witnessed a dramatic plunge, official data showed Jan. 31. 

Three 5-year-olds born to Greek parents on the northeastern Aegean island of Imvros, known as Gokceada in Turkish, are looking forward to the first day of school after the Turkish Education Ministry green-lighted the operation of a Greek kindergarten.

The number of foreign arrivals to Turkey dropped by 25.8 percent to 2.45 million in October, compared to the same month in 2015, temporary data from the Tourism Ministry showed on Nov. 29. 

This was the smallest shrinkage in foreign arrivals in the last seven months, as Turkey's tourism industry struggles amid political and security concerns.

The U.S. Department of State issued an update to its travel warning to Turkey on Oct. 24 over "increased terror threats from terrorist groups" across the country.

The number of tourists visiting the Mediterranean resort of Antalya by air saw a 47 percent decrease in the first nine months of 2016 compared to last year, plummeting to 4.7 million, as Turkey's tourist industry continues to struggle with a number of headwinds. 

Israel's counterterrorism bureau has said the suicide bomber who killed Israeli tourists in Istanbul last month did not specifically target Israelis but was taking aim at tourism in Turkey in general.

The United States embassy in Turkey on April 9 warned American citizens of "credible threats" to tourist areas in Istanbul and the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, a day after Israel warned of "imminent risks" of attacks.

The Foreign Ministry in Sofia has again warned Bulgarian citizens visiting Turkey to exercise high vigilance and caution in view of increased risk of terror attacks.

Bulgarian citizens are also being advised to avoid travel to southeastern Turkey.

The number of foreign arrivals from Russia to Turkey declined significantly in the first month of 2016, temporary data from the Tourism Ministry showed on Feb. 29. 

A total of 22,106 people from Russia visited Turkey in January, a decline of 56.7 percent compared to the same month of the previous year. 

Things are getting worse for Turkey's tourism sector, with crisis after crisis erupting before the last one is resolved. The situation is so bad that we should simply accept this year as a "lost year" for tourism and see this crisis period as a chance to transform the entire sector for the better.