Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has increasingly encouraged Muslims to visit Jerusalem, particularly in light of the US moving its embassy to the city.
Turkish Airlines Vice-President for Sales Muhammed Fatih Durmaz met with Palestinian Authority Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Rula Maโayah on Saturday in Bethlehem.
According to Turkeyโs Anadolu news agency, โTurkish Airlines is ready for cooperation to boost tourism in Palestine.โ
Ankara is a supporter of the Palestinians and also has relations with Hamas in Gaza. Turkey has been one of the major critics of the US recognition of Jerusalem last year.
According to reports, Durmaz expressed interest in cooperation to โbringing more tourists into Palestine.โ More than 130,000 Turkish citizens visited Palestinian Authority-controlled areas last year, the report said.ย Ammon News reported that Maโayah discussed the importance of Turkish-Palestinian relations and Turkeyโs โfamiliarityโ with Palestinian issues.
Other reports noted that this was a โstrategic destinationโ for Turkey and that there is a lot of potential for these tourists. Turkey has become more important in recent years in this respect for Palestinians with organized tours and delegations.
Hรผrriyet newspaper reported that the visit was part of a broader Turkish effort to also boost tourism in Jordan, in which Durmaz also held meeting with Jordanians. Turkish media is excited, particularly the pro-government media such as Yena ลafak. It is part of a broader support for Palestinians issues across Turkeyโs media and public.
WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:
- Hรผrriyet newspaper reported that the visit was part of a broader Turkish effort to also boost tourism in Jordan, in which Durmaz also held meeting with Jordanians.
- Other reports noted that this was a โstrategic destinationโ for Turkey and that there is a lot of potential for these tourists.
- Ankara is a supporter of the Palestinians and also has relations with Hamas in Gaza.
