The number of tourists visiting Istanbul peaks

The number of tourists visiting Istanbul peaks

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency
The number of tourists visiting Istanbul peaks

Hürriyet photo

The number of tourists visiting Istanbul significantly increased in the first half of 2012. According to the latest figures released by Istanbul Culture and Tourism Directorate, the number of tourists visiting Turkey reached a peak of 4.2 million, increasing 18 percent, compared to the same period of 2011.

Tourists visiting Istanbul were mostly from Germany, Russia, U.S., France and Britain.

 The number of visitors from North Africa also considerably increased during the period. Meanwhile, the number of tourist from Israel registered a decline. More than 4 million visitors came to Istanbul by plane. This figure is expected to continue its upward trend in the second half of the year, stated Prof. Dr. Ahmet Emre Bilgili, manager of the Istanbul Culture and Tourism Directorate.

 “It was a vintage year for us. We want to complete the year with 9.5 million visitors,” said Bilgili.