That's why Russia-Turkey economic co-operation

The Association of Tourist Hotels of the Mediterranean Erkan Yağcı said these figures showed a much stronger tourist season this year compared to 2016, reports “Hurriyet Daily News”, Periscopi broadcast.

Speaking at the Turkey-Russia Media Forum, Ya Tsacı said the growth of tourism in Antalya was 60 percent more than in 2016.

Tourists were hit hard by a diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Russia in 2016 after Turkey had hit a Russian plane on the border with Syria. During the crisis, Russian settlers plunged to almost 85 percent in 2016 compared to last year.

At the forum, Turkish and Russian tourism representatives discussed how to further boost tourism ties between the two countries.

Atlas Global Chief Chairman Murat Ersoy said planned flights between Turkey and Russia must increase.

“Most importantly, the visa-free regime should resume to raise Russia's arrivals to Turkey”, he said, adding that a “regim of passports would be even better”.

Regarding visa liberalisation, Federal Tourism Agency (Rosturism) Public Forum head Sergey Markov said Moscow was open to discuss this, stressing that security concerns mainly stemming from the war in nearby Syria must be resolved.

Markov also said Turkey's health services and security services for Russian tourists should increase.

In addition, the number of Turkish tourism workers who recognise Russian must increase. Even in hotels where 90 percent of guests are Russians, there are often no Russian - speaking workers “, he added.. /Periscopi/