ABTA today announces that Turkey is to host its Travel Convention in the luxury resort of Belek, Antalya, from 10-12 October 2012.

With a flying time of less than four hours from London to Antalya, it will be the first time that the Convention is hosted in an all-inclusive resort. The Convention was last hosted in Turkey in 1996, in Istanbul.

Speaking from the closing session of the 2011 Travel Convention in Palma Mallorca, Tolga Tuyluoglu, Director of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in London, said: “I am absolutely delighted that ABTA will be coming to Turkey next year. We are very excited to be hosting such a prestigious event in Belek in Antalya, one of our premier resorts.

“We last hosted the ABTA Travel Convention in Istanbul in 1996. Then we had just over 750,000 arrivals – now it is closer to three million!  The UK is such an important market for us and this is a great opportunity for us to show the UK travel trade the new face of Turkish tourism.”

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive said: “We are very excited to be able to announce Turkey as the hosts of the 2012 Travel Convention. Turkey has had a meteoric rise in the last few years as a tourist destination of choice for British holidaymakers. The resort of Belek offers outstanding, five-star facilities that will provide first rate support for The Convention’s programme of business, social and sporting activities. It is the first time that we will host The Convention in an all-inclusive resort, enabling delegates to enjoy The Convention and plan budgets effectively.”