Turkish tourism sector thrilled over visa-free travel to Europe

Cafe Tour Director Barış Y. Aygün said that the agreement-in-principle between Turkey and the European Union, which would waive visa requirements for Turkish citizens to the Schengen zone, is causing a buzz of excitement in the tourism sector. Turkey and the EU have recently agreed in principle on a solution to the refugee crisis. According the terms of the agreement, visa requirements will be lifted for Turkish citizens traveling to Europe by the end of June 2016.

As a French-based firm, Aygün said that Cafe Tour has been operating in Istanbul since 2000, offering the largest number of international destination alternatives in Turkey. "In the case of visa-free travel, the citizens of the Republic of Turkey can travel to Europe more easily. Firstly, the borders in their minds will be lifted and the visa-free tour alternatives for their holiday itineraries will increase. The fact that visas will be lifted will save travelers from economic and bureaucratic burdens while presenting new options for their holiday plans." Aygün added.

Stressing that visa-free travel will reduce bureaucratic headaches and contribute to tourism revenue in the Schengen zone, Aygün said: "Turkish citizens will be able to visit European cities that they have always wanted to see, whenever they want. This positive scenario will foreseeably bring a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in international tourism demands."