The number of foreigners visiting the country dropped by 22.1% on a yearly basis in the quarter, the ministry data showed.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in China last December, tourism and aviation sectors took a backseat
due to restrictions on travel. Turkey’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines also suspended all flights till May 28.
COVID-19 has spread to at least 185 countries and regions across the world. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit.
In the first quarter, Istanbul remained Turkey’s top tourist spot, attracting nearly 55.5% of all visitors – around 2.35 million.
Edirne, in northwestern Turkey, which borders both Bulgaria and Greece, saw the second-highest number of foreigners, with 540,261 in the January-March period.
