Economic Coordination Council to form tourism working group

The Economic Coordination Council, led by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, yesterday decided to form a working group on boosting the tourism sector and attracting more visitors to Turkey. According to the council, the working group will evaluate proposals by various public bodies and institutions and set up short- and long-term measures for tourism. Also speaking at the meeting, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that 25 million tourists came to Turkey last year, earning the nation $22 billion. "By 2023, we expect Turkey to be in the top five countries in terms of the number of tourists and revenues," he added.