Turkey known as the country of traditional beach rest, seriously undertook development of alternative kinds of tourism, in particular, medical, and at the initial stage plans to receive from it the income in $1 billion, transfers the RATA-NEWS. Incomes of Turkey of tourism in 2007 have made $18,5 billion dollars.
The country have visited over 27 million foreigners. Number of the Russian tourists who have had a rest on Turkish sea resorts by November, 2008, has grown for thirty percent and has exceeded two million person. «Having analysed a situation in the tourism world market, and also the tendency the next years, we have come to a conclusion that so-called alternative tourism, including medical» can become one of perspective directions, — has informed Server Secher, the vice-president of company Anfas, one of the organizers of the international exhibitions largest in Turkey and fairs. Сечер has explained that it is a question that on resorts tourists can combine rest with preventive maintenance and treatment of illnesses, visiting of the Turkish thermal clinics, special programs in sports clubs and the fitness centres. According to Sechera, this kind of tourism already develops in Turkey.
To the early period in Antalya annually spend preparation about thousand foreign football clubs, various conferences with participation of representatives of set of the countries will be organised. About prospects of alternative kinds of tourism it is planned to tell at the first specialised international exhibition Hetex which will pass in Antalya in the end of February — the beginning of March. «In it participation about 500 representatives from 105 countries is expected, but the main interest for us is represented by Russia», — has added the official representative of company Anfas Arzu Jungjul.
As she said, the project is realised with official support of the Turkish government, and also Ministries of Health, culture and tourism. «The volume of world sector of medical tourism is made now about $120 billion by Share of Turkey in it yet does not exceed $400 million, however this beginning only, and we intend to go forward», — the official representative of the Ministry of tourism of Turkey tells Ibrahim Jazar.