Travel agencies say Turkey steadily winning back Russian tourists

Russians’ enthusiasm in travelling to Turkey is gradually increasing, the press service for the Association of Tour Operators in Russia (ATOR) reported on Monday. "Despite the country’s unfolding developments, Russians’ demand for Turkey is growing," the press office said in a statement on the ATOR website. "Travel agencies say that flight destinations by Russian and Turkish air carriers between Russia and Turkey have expanded after this route was re-opened." According to the association, airlines operating regular flights to Turkey’s resorts continue to reinstate their routes. "As of early August, flight destinations between Russia and Turkey have widened. Prior to the aborted coup it was only possible to get to Antalya by direct flights from Moscow, Novosibirsk and Krasnodar. Now, flights to Dalaman and Bodrum have become available to Russians following the resumption of regular flight service in late July," the ATOR said. The Russian Federal Tourism Agency earlier reported that its head, Oleg Safonov, will discuss Russian tourists’ safety at Turkey’s resorts with his Turkish counterparts in Ankara on August 2 and possible resuming charter flights between both countries.