Eco-tourism a new trend in Turkey

In a search for new paths that are both profitable and nature-friendly, as traditional tourism nears a possible saturation point, "eco-tourism" has emerged to suit then sector's needs and expectations. Coined at the 2002 Rio Environment Summit, eco-tourism refers to making the best use of natural resources without harming the environment while contributing to the economic development of locals without affecting their cultures. Among the most suitable destinations for eco-tourism, Turkey is noteworthy especially for its flora, fauna and untouched natural beauty. Eco-tourism could be very profitable for Turkey if practices are put into effect in various parts of the country, Antalya tourism investor Kemal Ergin told the Hurriyet Daily News. "It benefits both tourists and the country," he said. "While tourists pay less for a holiday that goes hand-in-hand with nature instead of spending it inside the walls of a luxurious five-star hotel, the country gains much more from it than any other industry since its total costs are comparatively lower in ensuring a good amount of liquidity." Stressing that eco-tourism requires lower capital costs and shrinks faster in terms of investments, Ergin said it is on the way to becoming one of the strongest trends in the tourism sector. In related news, Turkey attracted nearly 26 million tourists in the first 11 months of this year. Through November, many German, Russian and British tourists came to Turkey, especially its Mediterranean region. Nearly 26 million tourists visited Turkey in the period, a 2.4 percent rise over last year, tourism officials said, including 4.2 million Germans, 2.6 million Russians, 2.3 million British visitors, and tourists from Iran, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Georgia, France, the US, and Italy. Most of the tourists entered the border in the Mediterranean province of Antalya, the southwestern province of Mugla, or Istanbul. The number of Iranian and Arab tourists also rose. Nearly 140,000 Iranian tourists and more than 1 million visitors from the Middle East came to Turkey in the first 11 months. While 70.3 percent of tourists arrived in Turkey by plane, 21.6 percent came by land.