Major tourism push planned for eastern Turkey, Black Sea region

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the 25th Winter Universiade Games in the eastern Anatolia province of Erzurum, Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay said over the weekend that Turkey is working on a comprehensive tourism development plan focusing on the eastern provinces and the Black Sea region. "Under a three-prong strategy involving Trabzon, Erzurum and Van, we're set to start a tourism push in Turkey's east and north," he said, citing the earlier 1980s tourism drive for Mugla, Antalya and Istanbul. "Turkey is now the world's number seven tourism destination," he said. "Even during times of economic crisis, the number of tourists visiting Turkey remains undiminished. Now we want to spread this success throughout Turkey."