Turkish tourist numbers rise despite global travel chaos, tourist board says

Turkey reports that more holidaymakers visited the country in March than in the same month last year, despite the Middle East conflict causing global travel disruption.

Data released by the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) showed a 16 per cent increase in British holidaymakers year on year.

In the last week of the month alone, 24 to 30 March, UK visitor numbers jumped 64 per cent year on year.

While the UK’s Foreign Office did not issue any new warnings against travel to Turkey relating to the conflict in the Middle East, it did release a blanket statement for all countries in the region, including Turkey.

“Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption,” the statement, which was put in place on 1 March, says.

The TGA reminded travellers that its most popular holiday destinations, including Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Izmir, are located “hundreds of miles from the conflict”.

Sinan Seha Türkseven, general manager of TGA, said: "British travellers have made their verdict clear. Our border entries from the UK, and other European markets have shown double-digit growth year-on-year over the past few weeks.

“British holidaymakers clearly know that Türkiye's holiday destinations are open, welcoming, and as spectacular as ever."

Online travel agency On the Beach said that in the last week of March, it recorded a 160 per cent increase in bookings to Turkey, largely for last-minute bookings ahead of the Easter break.

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