Mumcu: There Was A 40 Percent Decrease In Tourism In First Half Of The Year

DENIZLI - Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu said on Friday that there was a forty percent decrease in tourism in first six months of the year due to impacts of Iraq war and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Mumcu who came to Denizli province in to hold several contacts answered questions of reporters in Pamukkale.
Replying a question about decrease in tourism, Mumcu said he expected an increase in tourism beginning on June 15.
Stressing that Iraq war and SARS affected not only Turkey but also whole world, Mumcu said, ''when we look at comparison of first six-month periods, we see that there was a forty percent decrease. This can't be totally compensated in the second half of the year. Because a growth more than forty percent can't be achieved as we are currently selling the capacity we will sell in the second half. However, we can compensate the decrease in first half of the year with a specific growth. I believe that revenues would be between nine and ten billion U.S. dollars.''
Replying a question about opening of doors to Greek Cypriot citizens, Mumcu said that it was a positive initiative in international level, and it would be more beneficial to Istanbul.
(MS-AÖ) 23.05.2003