ISTANBUL
Tourism activity is expected to spike after Greece decided to exempt Turkish citizens from Schengen visa requirements for seven days to visit the eastern Aegean islands, representatives from the Turkish tourism industry have said.
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Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the move at a joint press conference with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last week in Athens, which is cheered by Turkish tour operators.
Problems with obtaining a Schengen visa for Turkish travelers have been hindering the businesses of Turkish tour operators for some time.
The fast-track visa is expected to have positive impacts on a range of businesses, including ferry services and organizers of tours.
The cost of the Schengen visa is expected to decline from the current 120 euros to around 50 to 60 euros, which is likely to lead to a 100 percent increase in demand for Greek islands, said Ali Onaran, the board chair of Pronto Tour.
“This is, however, not…