Turkey is the sixth most popular tourist destination in the world, having received over 31.7 million tourists last year, including 31,215 Arab tourists and many Saudis who often travel to the historic city of Bursa during their summer holidays, said a Turkish official at the Riyadh Tourism Fair that ended on Friday.

Samet Ercoskun, deputy governor of Bursa, said officials are now increasingly providing Arabic-speaking guides for tourists from Saudi Arabia. The Turkish Cultural Attaché, Huseyin Es, was also present at the tourism fair.

Ercoskun said Bursa receives the highest number of visitors from the Kingdom among all the Arab League countries. He said there was a great potential to expand relations.

Bursa has 193 hotels with more than 17,000 beds. A total of 15 international hotel chains will soon begin investing in the country to increase capacity to 20,000 beds.

He said Bursa is surrounded by historic and natural sites highlighting various aspects of Turkish-Islamic culture.

The Yenizehir Airport in Bursa, which is 75 minutes away from Istanbul, is one of the leading tourism destinations for health conscious tourists with its hot water springs. The city is the only Turkish member of the European Thermal Towns Association.

He said Bursa is one of the most important Islamic cities in the world. It also has the tombs of six founders and rulers of the Great Ottoman Empire.

“As in many areas of the economy, there is a strong link between Saudi Arabia and Bursa in tourism. Especially within the framework of the memorandum of understanding signed with the Arab Tourism Organization.” He said the first Turk-Arab tourism meeting was held in 2012 in Bursa.

Ercoskun said promotions for Bursa included various meetings between Turkish officials and Saudi businesspeople.