The tourism in Turkey continues to grow, considering the increasing number of visitors, the Turkish government is now encouraging the construction of new hotels.

According to TOPHOTELPROJECTS, the worldwide leading provider of global b2b hotel data, currently 53 new properties will arise, some of them by famous hotel operators.

Latest top hotel is the Raffles in Istanbul (132 rooms and 49 suites), which will officially opened on the 1st September. The imposing building in the BeÅŸiktaÅŸ district embodies the young face of an historic city and is part of the award-winning Zorlu Center - a kind of "Bazaar of the next generation," where fashion, gastronomy, culture and entertainment meet.

The Raffles Istanbul (right) is an impressive mix of spectacular architecture, glamorous interior, sophisticated gastronomy and the ultimate luxury. It overlooks the Bosphorus, the Princes Islands and the historical peninsula - a stunning vantage point over the city.

With the intention to become a land for tourism, the Turkish government wants to promote the construction of hotels and resorts. Considering the rising numbers of visitors new hotel capacities must be built and existing ones must be modernized. The Ministry of Tourism submitted to private investors several project proposals in mid-2014, to be allocated. It is planned the construction of hotels with a total capacity of more than 11,000 beds.

The tourism in Turkey is still on the upwind. According to the Turkish Statistical Institute the number of visitors increased in the first half of 2014 compared to the same period last year by 6.6 percent to more than 16 million. The total revenue from tourism rose by 6.3 percent to nearly 13.8 billion dollars. These figures also include the currency expenditures of Turks living abroad, visiting their homeland.

The Turkish government expects for the upcoming year with a continuation of this positive trend in the tourism business and therefore expedites the investment in new hotel projects. Among the support measures of the Ministry include the allocation of public land for private hotel projects.

One focus of the planned investments provides hotels with attached spas, including medicinal treatments. In Yalova on the Marmara Sea, south of Istanbul, a thermal hotel with 750 beds will be built. The investment costs are estimated at 77 million Turkish Lira (TL; around 26.6 million euros, 1 euro = around 2.89 TL). In Bursa, about 200 km southeast of Istanbul, the construction of two golf and spa hotels is planned, each with 420 beds.

Further information: www.tophotelprojects.com