Ankara: Turkish docks welcomed some 490 cruise ships in the first six months of the year, up 18.07% on an annual basis, led by high demand for the country's maritime tourism, the nation's transport minister told Anadolu. 'Growing interest in our country's cruise tourism is the number one indicator of the rising demand for our maritime tourism, thanks to Trkiye's geographical location,' said Abdulkadir Uraloglu.

According to Anadolu Agency, the number of cruise passengers soared 27.46% year-on-year in the first six months of the year, reaching 732,302. In June, the number of cruise ships calling at Turkish ports rose 14.56% year-on-year, totaling 173, while the number of passengers arriving at those ports reached 293,766, up 20.61% on an annual basis, Uraloglu said.

Uraloglu highlighted that Trkiye has become a world tourism hub as more and more international passengers choose the country for its historical, cultural, and natural richness. He noted that investments in cruise tourism continue along with other investments in all modes of transportation in Trkiye. 'We expect to easily surpass 2 million passengers this year,' he said.

The Port of Kusadasi in the nation's southwest welcomed 227 cruise ships and 339,922 cruise passengers in the first six months of the year. Ports in Istanbul followed, with 96 cruise ships and 220,720 passengers, then Bodrum in the southwest with 29 cruise ships and 31,761 passengers, Cesme with 24 ships and 11,183 passengers, and Canakkale with 15 ships. Other ports in total hosted 99 cruise ships and 119,743 passengers during the same period, Uraloglu said. He added that one cruise ship arrived at each of the ports of Fethiye, Gocek, and Sinop in the first half of the year.