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Moscow festival reflects hope for Turkey’s tourism sector

Russian tourists are returning to Turkey’s relatively warm climes as relations between the countries thaw.
ANTALYA, TURKEY - JULY 12: Tourists take part in an aqua aerobics session at an all inclusive Russian themed resort on July 12, 2016 in Antalya, Turkey. Russian President Vladimir Putin last month officially lifted travel restrictions on tourism to Turkey. Russia had banned agency tours to Turkey after a diplomatic crisis erupted when Turkey downed a Russian jet on the Turkey - Syrian border in November 2015.  Turkey's tourism is currently in crisis after a series of terrorist attacks, most recently the bom

In a sign of improving relations, Moscow will be hosting this year’s Turkey Festival, which runs June 16-18. The event is being organized by Turkish authorities, civil society organizations and businesspeople in cooperation with Moscow city authorities. The festival’s budget is pegged at $1.2 billion, and organizers hope more than 100,000 Russians will participate.

Many of the event’s organizers are tourism business associations and organizations.

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