Güneş Marmara Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Union Association (GÜMTOB) Chairman Haluk Beceren explains that this year, Russian visitors dropped, however with the influx of Arab tourists, hoteliers are pleased. Beceren states, "Our expectations for Uludağ this year are very high. It has been good thus far and the snow situation is great. I am hoping this will be an accident and problem free season. We have 22 hotels and a 5,000 bed capacity. This year there is an increase in the number of foreign visitors. Tourists from Malaysia, Russia, Middle Eastern and European countries are enjoying their winter vacations.'
"WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE INTEREST FROM ARAB TOURISTS"
Noting that Arab tourists are not day trippers and the majority that come to Uludağ tend to stay for a few nights, Beceren states, "From the start of the year, Arab tourists have been arriving to Uludağ. They stay a few days and enjoy the snow and the summit with their families. Those who experience Uludağ once will come back."