Over 2 mln Russian tourists visit Antalya so far this year

MOSCOW. Aug 19 (Interfax) - The passenger traffic at the airports of Antalya and Gazipasa-Alanya in January to mid-August stood at 10.4 million people, more than 2 million of them arrived from Russia, the Turizm Gazetesi newspaper said.

"According to the General Directorate Of State Airports Authority's (DHMI) data for Antalya and Gazipasa-Alanya, for the first time in its history Antalya welcomed more than 10,4 million tourists during a January to mid-August period, up 9% on the same period last year. By August 16, some 10.24 million tourists have landed in Antalya and 185,900 in Gasipasa-Alanya," the outlet said.

Tourists from Russia are in first place by the number of arrivals in Antalya, at 2.04 million, up 184,000 on the same period last year. Russians now make up 24% of the total passenger flow, a 10% increase.

Germany is in second place, with 1.77 million tourists and a 20.8% share in Antalya's total passenger flow. The last in the top three is Britain, with 874,000 tourists (a 10% share).

According to statistics, in July the Antalya airport had 630,500 domestic passengers and almost 5 million international ones. This month the passenger flow is forecast to increase to 2.7 million.