Antalya

Turkey's Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, one of the famous tourism destinations of the world, hosted over 1.5 million tourists in the first six months of 2021, tourism sector authorities said on July 7.

Hand-woven carpets lying in fields for sterilization and gaining their pastel colors in the sun create colorful images in Turkey's Mediterranean resort city of Antalya. (AA Photo)

Brnik – Air carriers keep returning to Ljubljana airport as, after more than a one-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a Brussels Airlines aircraft touched down at Brnik again on Monday. The flag carrier of Belgium currently operates three flights a week to and from Ljubljana, and the number of flights is expected to increase.

The first group of Russian tourists arrived in Turkey's southern province of Antalya, as Moscow resumed full-scale air traffic with Turkey on June 22. 

On April 15, Russia had temporarily suspended regular and charter flights with Turkey due to COVID-19 concerns. After a two-month break, Russian tourists started to come to Turkey again.

Turkey has huge investment and earning potential in the tourism sector, said the country's president on June 19. 

Looking ahead to Russian tourists possibly resuming visits to Turkey, a delegation from Moscow on June 17 began looking into Turkey's extensive safety measures to protect against COVID-19.

Turkey recorded 59,166 house sales in May, up 16.2% year-on-year, the country's statistical authority announced June 14. 

"Istanbul had the highest share with 19.2% and 11,356 house sales," TÜİK said in a statement.

The capital Ankara and the Aegean province of Izmir followed Istanbul with 5,653 and 3,298 house sales, respectively.

More than a million people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the Turkish resort city of Antalya.

A total of 1,007,920 doses have been administered to some 73 percent of the target population, according to Ünal Hülür, the provincial health director for Antalya.

Turkish defender Merih Demiral said people in Europe are talking about Turkish players' successes in major leagues.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency in Turkey's pre-tournament training camp in the Mediterranean city of Antalya on May 30, Juventus center-back Demiral said Europeans now notice Turkish players' achievements.

Turkey is launching direct flights connecting Sofia and Antalya this season. Anadolu Jet, a low-cost airline and a brand of Turkish Airlines, is including Bulgaria's capital Sofia in its network of international destinations, announced the company's press office.