Istanbul, Nov 22: Turkey scrambled to contain the fallout from the deadly suicide bombings in Istanbul on its crucial tourism industry, insisting that the country is
safe, but tourists remained wary of more bombs.
"We're scared, our holidays could be over in just a few
seconds," said Fatima Rodriguez, a waitress from Spain on
holiday with friends, outside Istanbul's historic Blue Mosque.
"No one can imagine where the next attack will take
place, but everyone is sure there will be another one."
Turkey has been hit by reports of cancellations from
European travel agencies, with some tour operators describing
the situation as a disaster after images of bloody, dazed
victims and horrific destruction streaked across television
screens worldwide.
Attacks on the British consulate and a British-based bank in Turkey's biggest city that killed 27 people and wounded 450 came less than a week after similar
bombings against two synagogues here which killed 25.
"We have already launched talks with tour operators
abroad, asking them to stay calm," tourism ministry spokesman
Sukru Demiryurek told. "We are explaining to the
operators that this is a temporary situation and that turkey
is a safe country for tourists."
Demiryurek argued that such bombings could take place in
any large city and that they did not mean Turkey was now
dangerous territory.
A record 13 million tourists visited Turkey last year,
bringing in vital revenues of USD 8.5 billion.
Bureau Report
