Turkey has developed a new religious tourism strategy for 2012 and is expecting to host 4 million Russian tourists. By the given indicator Russia is second after Germany, the Turkish Minister of Tourism Ertugrul Gunay told ITAR-TASS during his visit to Russia.

“It would be nice if the number of Russian tourists increased and that Russians came to Turkey not only to visit seaside resorts. We make every effort to provide tourists also with religious and cultural tourism,” the minister added.

“Currently Turkey is studying religious tourism. We do have something to offer like the Sumela Monastery in Trabzon, the Armenian church on Akhtamar island in Van province, also the churches and mosques in Eastern Anatolia,” the minister said.

“There are already 10 places in Turkey which were included UNESCO World Heritage List.”