Number of tourists visiting Izmir on rise

IZMIR (A.A) - January 4, 2012 - Western province of Izmir, among the major tourist destinations along with Istanbul and Antalya, hosted 1.3 million foreign tourists in 2011. According to the data by Izmir Culture and Tourism Directorate, 374,234 German tourists, 161,320 Italian, 147,179 French tourists and 106,359 Britons visited the province last year. 854,558 tourists arrived in the city by plane and 533,713 foreign visitors arrived in Izmir by sea. Speaking to AA correspondent, Izmir Culture and Tourism Office Director said the number of tourists visiting the city rose by 20 percent in 2011 compared to the previous year. Occupancy rate at coastal hotels was 90 percent during the seven months of the year, he added.