Speaking to the Anatolia news agency yesterday, Barut stated that the financial crisis affected all countries; however, he added that the Turkish tourism sector was less affected by the recession than others. Despite the crisis, 27 million tourists visited Turkey in 2009, bringing the sector $21 billion in revenue. Barut, pointing out that 2010 will be a year of recovery for the sector, noted: “The aftereffects of the crisis will continue to persist this year, too. However, despite this, the Turkish tourism sector will continue to grow at a modest rate.” He said they expect the number of British tourists to increase the most this year.
“This year will be recovery, but the year ahead will be a year of rejuvenation,” Barut said, predicting that the sector will regain its pre-crisis levels in the coming year. “The number of tourists to Turkey will increase by only 3 to 4 percent in 2010, but in 2011 the growth rate will be two times this year’s growth rate,” he said, adding that the tourism sector has a bright future ahead of it.
