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"Already the destination for millions of Russian tourists every year, Antalya is expected to welcome nearly 5 million tourists from Turkey's regional neighbor within three years thanks to the lifting of mutual visa restrictions.
"Although the global tourism sector is highly competitive ... today, the ongoing increase in the number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey is indicative of Turkey's professionalism and success in the sector," Mircalol Husanov, Russia's consul general in Antalya, said Monday at the Russian Country Day held by the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Mediterranean province hosted roughly 2.2 million Russian tourists last year. With a regular rise in the number of visitors every year, Antalya is expected to extend its share in the Russian market by 10 percent, reaching 2.5 million tourists this year.
Husanov said Russian tourists often choose Antalya because of Turkish hospitality and the service quality.
Putting a special emphasis on the positive effects of lifting visa procedures between the two countries, Osman Çetin Budak, chairman of Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the move would open up a new era in trading relations between the countries, with 5 million visitors expected in 2011 once mutual visas are abolished.
The annual trade volume between the two countries, meanwhile, has reached $40 billion.
Agreeing with Budak, Husanov further said a conclusion regarding the legal formalities would be reached within two or three months. With the visa-free travel, citizens of the two countries will be able to visit the other country for a maximum duration of 30 days without any visa requirements.
"This shows how important Turkey is for Russia," said Husanov, adding that the recent bilateral visits by the heads of the states have not only ensured an environment of trust but have also fortified political relations between the two countries.
