Turkey will be among the top five outbound destinations from the Middle East within two years and the country will see a 20% rise in tourists from the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, according to Murat Oldac, Director of Sales and Marketing, Radisson SAS Bosphorus, Turkey.

“The country is stepping up its marketing efforts across the Gulf. Turkey’s culture and tradition, central location as well as state-of-the-art conference facilities, makes it an attractive place for Middle East corporate and leisure travellers. Istanbul is also only four hours flying time away from most GCC countries and more airlines are starting direct flights to Turkey such as Air Arabia from Sharjah,” he said.

“The Turkish government has already made a significant move to attract Gulf investors by introducing new legislation to ease foreign investment in the country. It also plans to develop new hotels and resorts which will open up lucrative joint venture opportunities for Arab investors and these are extremely positive signs for the country’s tourism industry.”

Radisson SAS Bosphorus is a newly-built property on the banks of the Bosphorus strait that links the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea. With views of the sea and the world’s largest suspension bridge, linking Europe and Asia, the hotel is one of the most exclusive addresses in Istanbul.

“Since opening in December, we’ve already had a healthy occupancy rate and expect an even higher figure during the summer months,” added Oldac.

Radisson SAS operates another two hotels in Turkey – in the capital, Ankara and at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport and plans are underway for further expansion.

“Turkey is an important market for us and we are looking at more hotel projects in the country over the next five years,” explained Oldac.