Report: Tourism and Culture Ministry says only 2,600 visitors in June.
By ASSOCIATED PRESSblue mosque istanbul 311(photo credit: Elana Kirsh)
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey announced Thursday that the number of Israeli visitors dropped by 90 per cent in June compared to the same period last year.According to the figures posted on Turkey's Tourism and Culture Ministry website, only 2,600 Israelis visited Turkey in June, compared to just over 27,000 in June 2009.RELATED:Turkey’s tourism industry suffering from Israelis’ rebuffIsraeli travelers wipe Turkey off their summer mapsIsrael advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Turkey after a May 31 Israeli commando raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla sparked public outrage.The raid killed nine Turks and a Turkish-American.The travel advisory was lifted last month, citing an end to protests over the raid.Turkey had been a popular vacation destination for Israeli before the raid.