Cities and coastal resorts in Turkey are gearing up for an influx of travelers now that Turkey has extended the upcoming religious holiday, in a fresh boost for the crucial tourism industry.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Monday said the four-day Qurban Bayram holiday, also known as Eid al-Adha, will be linked with July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day. The break will thus last from July 9 through July 17.
Over 1 million people are expected to take a vacation during the break, according to Turkey Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB), not to mention millions that usually hit the road each year to visit their relatives for the religious holiday.
“We expect vitality in the demand of both domestic and foreign tourists during the Eid period,” said Müberra Eresin, head of Turkey Hoteliers Union. (TÜROB).
“There is a noteworthy domestic and foreign demand at resorts, while there will be an intensity in terms of foreign visitors in Istanbul hotels,” Eresin told Anadolu Agency (AA).
