#Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Murat Zorluoğlu

“The target is 2 million tourists in Trabzon's tourism season”

Trabzon, which has become one of the favorite holiday destinations especially for Arab tourists with its highlands, green nature and cool air, increased the number of foreign tourists from 30 thousand in 2010 to 700 thousand last year, and strives to increase this number to 2 million in the 2023 tourism season. Evaluating the rise in tourism in Trabzon in recent years, TÜRSAB Eastern Black Sea Region Representative Board Vice President Mehmet Ali Tuna said that Trabzon has become a center of attraction especially for Arab tourists coming from the Gulf countries. Noting that the ever-increasing interest and demand of Arab tourists is the most concrete indicator of this, Tuna said, “The region has become an important tourism destination with the start of direct flights from 12 different countries, mostly from the Gulf countries. We believe that the launch of direct flights to Trabzon by a company that appeals to tourists with a high income level, such as Qatar Airways, will make significant contributions to the tourism of the region. We have high expectations for the 2023 season. We aim to reach 2 million tourists in the city with direct and connecting international flights via Istanbul.” Expressing their satisfaction with the city's rise in tourism, Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Murat Zorluoğlu said, "Our city, which has the potential to become an important player in the tourism market, has shown a remarkable performance in recent years. Last year, the number of tourists visiting Trabzon was around 700 thousand. Considering that this number is 30 thousand in 2010, the leap in tourism will be better understood. The fact that our tourism income exceeds 1 billion dollars in 2022 is a harbinger that we will come to much better places this year.” Stating that Trabzon's success in tourism is not a coincidence, Zorluoğlu said, "Countries and cities that want to earn more from tourism and take a good place in the international tourism market have to spread the tourism event throughout the year. For this, diversification of tourism is a necessity. Tourism throughout the year also creates supply and demand diversity. It provides employment opportunities throughout the year by increasing sales and marketing opportunities and thus foreign currency inputs. In this context, we want to extend the tourism season in Trabzon, which is stuck in three or four months. We aim to attract tourists from Europe, America, Asia and the Far East to Trabzon. We call it '365 Days Tourism 4 Seasons Trabzon'. Trabzon has many more opportunities and potentials beyond sea, sand and sun tourism. The beauty of civilizations filtered through thousands of years of history is one of them. Health tourism is one of them. Our ancient city is one of Turkey's largest open-air museums with its Sumela, Hagia Sophia, Gülbahar Hatun Mosque, Girls' Monastery and covered bazaar. From Çaykara to Sürmene, from Tonya to Şalpazarı, from Akçaabat to Beşikdüzü, each district of Trabzon has its own beauties. Trabzon is a city of extraordinary riches that will appeal to everyone, regardless of nationality, belief or language. You can find authentic and modern, past and future, sea and mountain, tulum and kemençe and many more together in Trabzon. On this occasion, we invite everyone to Trabzon in order to experience all these beauties.”