Turkey aims to host over 38 million tourists in 2018

By Merve Yildizalp

ANKARA

Turkey aims to host at least 38 million tourists in 2018, Culture and Tourism Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Monday.

"We have a target of hosting at least 38 million tourists if hopefully the developments will continue like this," Kurtulmus said in capital Ankara.

The minister said Turkey hosted over 32 million tourists in 2017 and earned $26.5 billion from tourism.

"This is a great success for us...This result reveals that tourism sector seriously stands up to crisis," he said.

Kurtulmus said Turkey's ongoing Operation Olive Branch that was launched on Jan. 20 to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria, did not have any "negative" effect on tourism.

"A part of the operation has been successfully completed. This would not have any negative effect on Turkey's tourism," he added.

The Turkish troops and Free Syrian Army fighters took control of the Afrin town center early on Sunday.