Turkey is hoping that the return of Russian tourists, an extended public holiday and the continuation of flight fuel subsidies will boost tourism numbers in the final quarter of 2016.
Measures
We reported a few weeks ago that Turkey was poised to announce a new package of measures to boost the flagging tourism industry.
Tourism revenue in Turkey had dropped 35.6 percent in the second quarter of this year, its sharpest fall in 17 years, amid increased security fears following a series of bomb attacks.
The Turkish Government introduced a number of measures to boost the flagging tourism industry back in April this year.
One of those measures was the payment of a $6,000 (4,600 GBP) fuel subsidy per flight to airlines that fly into the Turkish Airports of Antalya, Alanya, Dalaman, Bodrum and Izmir airports.
Those subsidies were due to end on 31 August.
New Hope
The government announced last week that they would extend the programme of flight fuel support subsidies until the end of the year.
They also said that the extension of Eid al-Adha holiday (Bayram) from 4 to 9 days for most government workers would also boost domestic spending in the tourism sector.
A further boost is also expected with the return of Russian tourists.
Their numbers had been reduced to almost zero following a travel ban to Turkey following the shooting down of a Russian fighter jet.
That situation has now been resolved and last week Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev rescinded the ban on charter flights to Turkey.
Some commentators think the lifting of the ban could further boost visitors numbers as we enter the 2016 shoulder season.
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