Amid a slump in tourism revenues partly stemming from a perceived lack of safety, Turkish authorities are trying to change the fixed mindset that the country is considered a dangerous place to visit. A German police chief may help on the issue. Johann Rast, head of the police department for the Middle Franconia region of Germany told reporters in Antalya, a popular resort among German tourists, that the security in Turkey was not worse than any other European country and he felt "extremely safe" during a press tour where he accompanied a group of German journalists.
Rast was part of a delegation of German journalists from Nuremberg who met their Turkish counterparts in Antalya, a Mediterranean city popular among foreign tourists, although like other touristic regions, it has suffered from a drop in tourism revenues amid anti-Turkish propaganda and a string of terror attacks in other Turkish cities. Antalya is among big Turkish cities where terrorist groups have not staged attacks while Ankara and Istanbul had their share of attacks this year and last year both by the PKK and Daish.
Speaking during a meeting with Turkish journalists in Antalya, Rast, quoted by Ihlas News Agency (İHA) said he was personally interested in inspecting security in Turkey as a police chief and that was his primary reason to join the visit. He said he had the opportunity to observe how the security is maintained in Turkey and would share his impressions with his friends as well as the German media. He said security in Turkey can be compared with security in European countries. He acknowledged that achieving full security against any terror attack was not possible but he felt safe in Antalya "as in any European country," Rast said.
