The Turkish city of Trabzon is preparing for a new wave of visitors, particularly from Egypt and other Arab countries, following the transfer of Egypt forward Mohamed Salah to Trabzonspor.
Local authorities and tourism operators say Salah’s arrival could strengthen the city’s profile as a destination combining sports and tourism, MENA reported.
Salah, who enjoys widespread popularity across the Arab world and internationally, has already drawn increased attention to Trabzon, with expectations that fans will travel to watch him and visit the city’s attractions.
Turkish Airlines announced it would launch direct flights between Cairo and Trabzon from Aug. 11, seeking to meet expected demand from Egyptian fans. Turkish media reported that the first charter flight on the route arrived carrying 120 passengers.
Trabzon is one of Türkiye’s leading tourist destinations, particularly for visitors from the Middle East and Gulf region, thanks to its lush mountain landscape, sea views and historic sites.
The city received about 1.447 million domestic and international visitors, including around 808,000 foreign tourists, according to data from Trabzon’s provincial culture and tourism directorate. That marked a 14-per cent increase from the previous year, when the city recorded around 711,000 foreign visitors.
Arab tourists, particularly those from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, account for a significant share of Trabzon’s tourism activity, supported by an expanding network of direct flights with Arab cities.
During the peak summer season, Trabzon airport handles between 24 and 35 international flights a day, while hotel occupancy rates in the city centre and the popular Uzungol area exceed 90 percent.
Türkiye’s tourism sector is also counting on more visitors from Egypt. Estimates put the annual number of Egyptian tourists visiting Türkiye at between 180,000 and 230,000, with arrivals gradually increasing in recent years amid easier travel and improving relations between the two countries.
The expected benefits of Salah’s presence extend beyond sport, with Türkiye seeking to capitalise on his global popularity to raise the profile of its football league and boost tourism and services in Trabzon.
