Turkey's Antalya Tops Other Touristic Cities In Mediterranean Basin

ANTALYA - A Turkish city had topped other touristic cities in the Mediterranean basin, a Turkish tourism expert said on Tuesday.
The chairman of Europe-Turkey Tourism Business Council said Antalya, a city in south Turkey, became the leader of other Mediterranean cities attracting tourists this year.
"There has been almost thirty percent rise in bookings for hotels in Antalya this year," chairman Huseyin Baraner told AA correspondent.
Baraner said Antalya deserved the title of "the shining star of Europe" in tourism this year, and told the AA that this Mediterranean city expected tourists particularly from Germany, Russia, Ukraine, the Netherlands and Romania.
"This season, around 900 planes will take off and land at the international airport of Antalya," Baraner, who is also the adviser to German tour operator TUI, said.
More than 7 million tourists visited Antalya in 2007, and more than 1 million tourists arrived in Antalya in the first four months of 2008.
The number of tourists visiting Antalya is expected to be over 9 million this year.
(BRC-MS)