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Security measures boosted for tourists in Istanbul

Xinhua, March 2, 2017 Adjust font size:

Turkish officials said on Thursday that security measures across Istanbul have been upgraded for foreign tourists including Chinese, as the threat of more terror attacks is lingering.

"Istanbul is now a secure city," Ismail Gultekin, deputy governor of Istanbul, said at a meeting with Turkish and Chinese officials and tourism representatives. "Chinese tourists can now visit Turkey without any hesitation."

The number of Chinese visiting Turkey has dropped to some 167,000 in 2016 from about 310,000 in 2015 due to repeated terror attacks that hit Istanbul and other Turkish cities, with a shooting spree by an Islamic State militant on New Year's Day leaving 39 dead, mostly foreigners, at a nightclub in Istanbul.

Turkey saw a decline of over 30 percent in foreign arrivals in 2016, as many had shunned the country due to worsening security, according to figures released by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Hakan Yilmaz, head of the police department of Istanbul's Fatih district, which boasts touristic attractions like the Sultanahmet area, ancient monuments and mosques dating back to the Ottoman era, said security measures across the district have been boosted in the wake of the deadly attacks.

"Now our security forces follow a more visible method," Yilmaz said, noting that security forces can be seen patrolling the area in every ten meters.

He said special check points have been set up at Sultanahmet Square, which is near the well-known Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.

An additional 22 security check points with X-ray scanners have been established at all the entrances to the ancient Grand Bazaar not far away, the police chief said.

He asked Chinese tourists to immediately call the police in case they think they are cheated or overcharged.

In addition, 100 members of the special police forces have been deployed to the bazaar area, where private security forces were doubled, Gultekin said.

For his part, Qian Bo, the Chinese consul general in Istanbul, called for joint efforts by Istanbul authorities, the Chinese consulate general and travel agencies to better ensure the security of Chinese tourists and draw more Chinese nationals to visit Turkey.

The Turkish and Chinese sides pledged more cooperation on tourism and agreed to keep communication channels open for better resolution of issues. Endit