OREANDA-NEWS Turkey from January 1, 2019 introduces a tax on security for tourists in the amount of 1.5 euros, which will be charged at the airports on arrival, local media reported, citing the main office of the state airports of the country.

According to the portal Turizmhaberleri, initially it was supposed to introduce a tax of 3 euros per person. However, the Association of Travel Agencies of Turkey TURSAB appealed to the Minister of Culture and tourism of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy with a proposal to reduce the fee, as millions of tourists have already paid vacation in Turkey in 2019. After negotiations with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, it was decided to reduce the fee to 1.5 euros per person.

"One of the biggest advantages of Turkey as a tourist destination is good value for money. Tour packages for 2019 are sold for three months, starting in October, excluding the new tax. They were bought by millions of foreign tourists. Three euros might seem a small amount, but if this expense will be imposed on tour operators, they will have to pay millions of euros", — said the head of the Tursab Firuz Balika.

The Association of tour operators of Russia (ATOR) portal "Interfax-Tourism" reported that the new tax is introduced unexpectedly, and it is not clear whether to charge extra tourists who have already bought tours to Turkey on early booking shares. "Most likely, for already sold tours it will fall on the shoulders of tour operators," said ATOR.

Turkey expects to receive 40 million foreign tourists in 2018, of which 6 million are Russian tourists.