P.M. BRIEFING : Crisis Hurts Turkish Tourism
The country’s important tourism industry has been hit hard by the Persian Gulf crisis, with foreigners fearing war in the region canceling vacation reservations at a rate that could cost the industry as much as $1 billion this year.
Industry sources said today that projected income from tourism in 1990 of $3.5 billion could drop by nearly 30% because of the turmoil in the region.
They said since Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s Aug. 2 invasion of Kuwait, which prompted a huge Western military buildup in the region supported by air bases in Turkey, the overall turnover of tourists has slumped dramatically.
Only a few hotels along the border with Iraq reported they were full, enjoying a short-lived boom caused by the thousands of refugees, consular officials and journalists who have swarmed into the country.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
