Miss World Azra Akin promotes Turkish tourism

During the campaign Turkey’s historic and natural beauties will be introduced through the photos of 2002 Miss World Azra Akin.

Minister of Tourism and Culture Erkan Mumcu, who held a press meeting at the Lutfi Kirdar Cultural and Exhibition Hall, said that a new process has started in Turkish tourism with new expectation and perspectives.

Stating they would make efforts to promote Turkey all over the world in a contemporary way, Mumcu said, "We will point out Turkey’s cultural property and richness in this new promotion process." Adding that they planned to extend the campaign by organizing cultural and artistic activities, Mumcu said that thanks to these activities the number of tourists would increase in Turkey.

Mumcu believes that Turkey will break records in the area of tourism and added the following:

"We expect 16.5 million tourists to come to Turkey this year and which will result in a $12.5 billion tourism income. We estimate that this number will increase thanks to new investments, diverse tourism products and a prolonged tourism season. Our goal was 20 million tourists for 2007 in the past. In line with the results of tourism market, this number is valid until 2006. So, we will reach the goal of 30 million tourists, which we aimed through 2010, in 2009."

Mumcu also stated that the terrorist attacks that took place in November didn’t have negative impacts on tourism as it had been expected and said, "This January Istanbul received the most number of tourists ever in one month."