Daily 12 March/März - ITB Berlin

XXII Friday 12 March ITB Berlin English Daily 2010
petitive prices – which are on average 40% to 50% cheaper than in Europe – and by
the high standard of medical treatment and facilities.
Health tourism is becoming an important source of revenue for Tunisia, representing
5% of exports and 24% of the total revenue of private clinics in Tunisia (€175 million in
2009). According to the Ministry of Tourism, international arrivals coming specifically for
health treatment in 2009 spent on average of €4,000 during their stay, compared to
€300 spent by tourists overall.
Mugla adds more tourism facilities
Tourism in Turkey’s Mugla area has continued to grow, despite difficult world economic
conditions, say its Mugla’s tourism leaders, and plans are in place to add to the region’s
tourism infrastructure. The province is one of Turkey’s top tourism destinations –
Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye and Oludeniz are all located along Mugla’s stunning coastline
– and it attracts around 70% of all international arrivals in the country. It is
especially popular with UK tourists who make up nearly half of all its international visitors.
Plans are in place to develop Mugla as a major golf tourism destination; Net Holding and
the Ağaoğlu Group are investing US$1.5 billion to create ten new golf courses in the
Bodrum and Milas areas by 2015. An 18-hole course has already been opened at Vita
Park near Bodrum and another 27-hole course is under construction.
Mugla already has 272,000 hotel beds, but further investment in new properties is in
the pipeline, and capacity is likely to expand at the region’s marinas in Bodrum,
Marmaris, Fethiye and Gulluk (they currently can accommodate more than 100,000
yachts a year between them). Bodrum has become an increasingly popular cruise destination;
cruise passenger numbers have increased dramatically from 12,550 in 2007 to
95,000 in 2009. The port has a new 240-metre pier and there are plans to extend this
and add shopping facilities.