Twenty-nine million in-bound tourists visited Turkey in 2010, up seven per cent over the previous year, encouraging analysts to predict an increase for this year, said the organisers of an upcoming hotel investment summit in Istanbul.

The Central Asia and Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (Cathic), the first-ever forum highlighting the region’s tourism and hospitality investment and development, will take place from February 7 to 9 at the InterContinental Hotel.

“Turkey is the new hot-spot for tourism development. The country is vast, varied and interesting – all key contributors to a compelling offer for leisure and destination travellers,” said Jonathan Worsley, chairman of Bench Events, the co-organisers of Cathic.

“However, to support the demand the infrastructure must be swiftly but carefully enhanced. Turkey has a golden opportunity to ‘do it right’ by looking at more mature destinations and considering ‘what not do’.”

Turkey was visited by 26.5 million tourists in 2008, a 13 per cent increase over 2007 while 27.3 million tourists visited in 2009.

Worsley said that opportunities for tourism development are Turkey-wide, suggesting that immediate attention be given to Istanbul, Mugla, Antara, as well as developing key beach front locations.

Looking at Istanbul, considered the country’s gateway, Worsley said that the hub is undersupplied with 31,500 rooms.

“Presently, international and regional hospitality flags have about 2, 500 new rooms in the medium term pipeline for Istanbul up to 2015 but this is not enough to fill the anticipated demand,” he added.

Citing speciality tourism as a driver for bullish growth, Worsley said that medical, leisure and golf tourism will fuel the demand.

“The country’s golf tourism has seen massive growth last year, and medical tourism is expected to grow around 16 percent in the next three years. The country’s golf tourism has seen massive growth last year, and medical tourism is expected to grow around 16 percent in the next three years,” Worsley said.

“Add to it, the growing leisure tourism and Turkey becomes a hot spot for developers with an appetite to meet this demand.”

He said that Cathic will bring leading developers and consultants to Istanbul to witness the potential for themselves and discuss how the Turkish and the Central Asia region will drive the future growth of greater region of Mena. – TradeArabia News Service