Association of Turkish Travel Agencies

Turkey’s top tourism association has announced 2015 as the “Year of Jerusalem,” aiming to send around 100,000 Turkish tourists to Jerusalem over the course of the year to contribute to peacemaking efforts there.

Despite turmoil in the Middle East and recession in Europe, Turkey continues to be an attraction for tourists, says Başaran Ulusoy, the president of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB).

Istanbul may not sound like the likeliest place a Scottish woman and an Irishman to tie the knot in. Having previously lived in Turkey’s capital Ankara, before moving to their current home in Dubai, Stephanie and Henry chose Istanbul for their wedding celebration because “they had fallen in love with Turkey.”

Dozens of holidaymakers in Turkey have been victimized by scam hotel websites created by a fraudulent online travel platform, which is accused of conning customers out of thousands of Turkish Liras with fake reservations.

With the aim of compensating for its losses from decline in European tourists, the Turkish tourism sector will try to allure local tourists.

 This summer’s season is expected to witness a boom with the Ramadan holiday, according to a report released by the top sector organization.

The number of tourists to Turkey is expected to rise to a record high of 43 million this year, with a moderate increase in tourism income also projected, according to Başaran Ulusoy, the chairman of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB).