Hot air balloon flights in the popular tourist region of Turkey – Cappadocia in January-July this year were made by 38,225 local and foreign tourists.
In total, for the entire 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic crisis reached its peak, 120,917 people flew hot air balloon flights in this part of Turkey.
According to the decision of the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority (SHGM), hot air balloon flights were not operated between March 17 and August 23, 2020.
As reported by Anadolu Agency with reference to SHGM data, for seven months of this year, that is, for 111 favorable weather conditions for balloon flights, 7,646 flights were performed.
Hot air balloon flights over the sights of Cappadocia were made by 8,289 tourists in January, 11,265 tourists in February, 18,363 in March, 12,627 in April, 8,528 in May, 31,421 in June and 47,732 in July.
The head of the Association of Air Balloon Companies in Anatolia (ASBID) Mehmet Dinler told Anadolu Agency that, as part of the measures to combat coronavirus, balloon flights in 2020 were not organized for several months, and 2021 was the year of tourism recovery.
Although unfavorable weather conditions such as wind and precipitation prevented hot air balloon flights, especially in the first half of the year, a large number of balloons rose into the sky during favorable weather, he said.
“2020 has passed in the shadow of a pandemic. Whereas against the background of the acceleration of the vaccination process, 2021 was the year of recovery. The dynamics in July due to the Kurban holiday exceeded all our expectations. We hope this growth will continue in August, September and October as well”, Dinler said.
