Two years ago, Turkey was the world’s sixth most-visited country — and while tourists have since deserted its holiday spots in droves, experts believe that this year it’s due to make a resurgence.
ABTA’s latest tourism research suggests that the number of holidaymakers coming to Turkey from the UK alone is expected to increase by 69 per cent this year. Mark Warner is opening a new resort in Phokaia Beach in May, a short way up the coast from Izmir.
And the Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa, set on a remote private beach in the Turkish Riviera between Marmaris and Fethiye, has reported a 195 per cent increase in bookings for this year, compared to last.
Away from the beach, fairytale Cappadocia is another tempting location with no security concerns for the Foreign Office — hotels such as Argos in Cappadocia have rooms and even pools within the area’s caves.
Tropical street view
If you needed any encouragement to escape the British winter and head to the Caribbean, Virgin Atlantic has been working with locals and the tourist board of Tobago, to map the island in images.
With 360 degree underwater views and aerial shots of the island along with some of the best spots on land, it’s now a fixture on Google Street View.
A team of ten crew members joined more than 50 locals to highlight some of the secrets of this little-known spot — tucked away near Trinidad — from its rainforest to shipwrecks as well as the island’s idyllic beaches and market stalls.
Return of the Pharaoh
It’s not just Turkey aiming to tempt back its tourists. Lovers of ancient Egypt have a new reason to head back to the country in 2018.
A colossal 11 metre high statue of King Ramses II has moved to its new permanent home in the entrance hall of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
The 75-tonne statue, created 3,200 years ago and rediscovered in 1820, is the first artefact to be put in position at the museum, which will house 100,000 works by the time it is finished.
The Atrium, Grand Staircase and Tutankhamun Hall are due to open in November, almost 17 years after the foundation stone was laid, with the final stages completed by 2022.
Pool's out for summer
Family holidays are no longer all about lazing by pool, according to new research from Cruise Lines International Association, with culture and history topping the list instead.
More than four in five parents said it’s important that kids experience local food, while around seven in ten said their priority is ensuring children visit local landmarks to learn about the history and culture.
And while the kids themselves didn’t get to vote, almost half their parents said they wouldn’t mind not having a kids’ pool or water slides...
