Tag Archives: Salih Ozer

Inbound medical tourism in Turkey rises, as the nation’s healthcare facilities have treated 264,138 medical tourists in the first six months of 2019, with the year-end projections estimated at one million incoming medical tourists. This forecast will generate upwards of USD 3.5 billion in revenues, surpassing the USD 2.5 billion generated by the end of the previous year, which saw 551,748 tourists travelling into Turkey from over 120 countries to avail healthcare treatments. Salih Ozer, Attaché of Culture and Information, Turkey to the UAE, said, “Tourists come to Turkey for a lot more than its sights; medical tourism into our cities has been climbing steadily over the last decade. We have been investing heavily in the growth of our healthcare sector, and we now offer high-quality treatments at very affordable prices. Medical tourists from our GCC neighbours, in particular, come to Turkey to avail cosmetic treatments. They are drawn in by the opportunity to combine these treatments with Turkish holidays.” The Turkish cities of Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Izmir, Yalova and Adana receive the highest number of medical tourists each year, from GCC nations, including the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, as well as from Germany, Russia. Azerbaijan and Iraq. The top ten clinics for medical tourists listed services under ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynaecology, oncology, cosmetic surgery, orthopaedics and cardiology as the top treatments in 2018.

The Turkish Cultural and Tourism Office in Dubai recently launched “The Year of Troia (Troy)” campaign at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) as part of the Tourism Plan of Turkey – 2023 to expand tourism traffic into the country with a focus on particular areas, such as the country’s north western region surrounding Canakkale province. “The importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in contributing to Turkey’s growing tourism industry is reflected by the fact that we have over fifty partners from Turkey participating in our pavilion at ATM this year,” said Salih Ozer, Attache of Culture and Information, Turkey to the UAE. In early January, the Turkish government declared 2018 the “Year of Troy” in honour of the 20th anniversary of the ancient city’s recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the historic setting of the Trojan War, described in detail in Homer’s epic poems as “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” To mark the occasion, a variety of events are planned throughout the year. The new Troia Museum in western Canakkale Province is expected to draw one million tourists in its inaugural year. The 10,000 square meter museum will showcase archeological findings of the ancient city, including 24 gold pieces known as the treasures of Helen of Troy, which were returned to Turkey from the U.S. after 125 years. Hollywood actors starring in “Troy,” the 2004 blockbuster such as Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom, have been invited to visit the museum by Turkey’s Tourism and Culture Ministry.

UAE residents and nationals travelling to Turkey in 2016 reached around 300,000 tourists, according to new figures released by the Turkish Consulate General Cultural and Information Office in Dubai. The figures show a 27 per cent increase in tourists travelling to Turkey from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries over the 2014-2016 time period. “This growth shows the Turkey is culturally and economically interesting for GCC travellers,” said Salih Ozer, Attaché of Culture and Information, Turkey to the UAE. “Over the past year, we have conducted many workshops and seminars for our GCC travel agents to get them better acquainted with what Turkey has to offer the GCC traveller.” Turkey has strengthened its position as a top holiday destination for GCC nationals and residents. From January to December 2016, a total of 822,849 holiday makers from the GCC visited Turkey’s many destinations. “We attach a great level of importance to these deepening relations between Turkey and the Gulf countries,” continued Ozer. “The UAE, in particular, continues to contribute heavily to Turkey’s tourist numbers, and we have taken many steps to simplify GCC tourist access to Turkey by facilitating visas for them in a quicker fashion.” Turkey is one of the top tourism destinations in the world based on the number of tourists and revenues. Whether its nature and the outdoors, history and archeology or beaches and relaxation, travelers from everywhere in the GCC can find their unique experience in Turkey. From Istanbul to Pamukkale, Cappadocia and Bursa in the west, Trabzon and Ayder on the shores of the Black Sea, to Antalya, Bodrum and Maramis to the south the country, Turkey’s unique offerings are unparalleled in the region. The Turkish …