In news from the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, balloon adventurists arriving in Turkey will have nine new destinations for hot-air balloon flights across the country. Tour agencies have reported an ever increasing interest in the trips.
The growing interest in this form of alternative tourism is on the rise as reports from the Cappadocia region in the central province of Nevsehir, tell of enthusiasts taking over 500,000 riders every year. In Cappadocia, 239 hot-air balloons belonging to 25 companies take off at least 260 days a year in an area filled with cone-shaped rock formations. Firuz Baglikaya, chairman of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), told Xinhua news:
“Allowing new destinations for hot-air balloon flights is an important decision for the enrichment of the touristic products variety in the country. The new destinations are expected to contribute positively to the development of the selected locations which include Turkey’s and the world’s well-known cultural and natural beauties.”
The travel executive said Pamukkale, or Cotton Castle, as perfect examples of wonderful destinations for balloonists.
Turkey hosted 27 million foreign visitors from January to August of this year, a figure up 22.9 percent year-on-year. And according to Baglikaya, the new destinations will boost the number of foreign arrivals even further.
Turkey’s tourism industry is just now rebounding after suffering from a spate of terror attacks and cooling relations with Germany, Russia, and the United States.