Turkish transportation minister says Turkey undersigned important investments in maritime sector

SOFIA (A.A) – January 11, 2011 - Turkish transportation minister has said that Turkey undersigned important investments in the maritime sector. Speaking to AA correspondent, Transportation, Maritime and Communication Minister Binali Yildirim said that there was need to work harder to improve the sector. Yildirim said that they eased regulations and dropped taxes in the maritime sector. Turkish ports are among places attracting luxury cruise liners, he said. "We attach a great importance to cruise tourism. We have made nearly 50 percent discount for cruise services for 2012," he said. Yildirim said that cruise liners brought only 500,000 tourists to two ports in 2003, stating that now cruise ships were bringing 2.3 million tourists to 11 ports of Turkey annually.