According to a new survey by leading online travel agency Wingie, Istanbul was the Middle East and North Africa region’s most popular tourist destination in the first quarter of 2022

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Driven by increased vaccination rates and the removal of travel restrictions, the global tourism and aviation sectors appear to be making a rapid recovery. This is especially the case in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where Istanbul has emerged as a leading flight destination, according to leading flight-booking website Wingie.

“Despite continued concerns over Omicron, international air travel in the MENA region showed major signs of recovery in this year’s first quarter,” Wingie Commercial Director Orkun Ozkan says. “Istanbul, meanwhile, topped the list of the most preferred destinations among MENA travellers.”

According to first-quarter data compiled by Wingie.ae, most of the flight tickets purchased in MENA were to Istanbul, followed by Khartoum, Manila, Dhaka, Baku, Lucknow, Entebbe and London.

Istanbul: A Favorite among Gulf Travelers

Wingie’s survey also found that most flights originating from MENA departed from the Saudi cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Abha. During the first several weeks of the year, numerous flights also departed from Dubai, Kuwait City and Cairo.

“Throughout the period, travellers from Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Oman mostly travelled to Istanbul,” Ozkan says. The three most popular air routes were Riyadh-Khartoum, Jeddah-Khartoum and Riyadh-Baku.

Wingie’s survey found that, following Istanbul, the most popular destinations among the same demographic were Khartoum, Manila, Baku and London. “More than 15 million people use Wingie each month to book their flights, so it can provide a very good picture of overall travel trends and consumer preferences,” Ozkan says.

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The Galata Istanbul Hotel

The Galata Istanbul Hotel-MGallery is a boutique hotel representing luxury and originality. Its distinctive character is displayed in the spectacular views from the hotel focusing on two splendid figures of Istanbul: Galata Tower, and Golden Horn. The five-star hotel offers peaceful accommodation for travellers who prefer to rest in an elegant atmosphere which is a combination of modern furniture, professional service and traditional glimpses of the historical zone around.

The room spaces range from 25 sqm to 42 sqm. Each room is elegantly furnished and decorated with traditional motifs on the walls in modernized forms. The rooms with views overlooking the city have a view of the Galata Tower and the Golden Horn. 

Holiday Inn Istanbul

In the very centre of Istanbul and a good base for a leisure trip to Istanbul, just 3km to important historical places like Topkapı Palace and Grand Bazaar. Warm comfortable rooms, great facilities and service. The Holiday Inn Istanbul City hotel is a two-minute walk from Pazartekke Tram Station, offering easy access to the Sultanahmet district with majestic Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia and bustling Grand Bazaar. It's a 60-minute drive or shuttle ride to Istanbul New Airport (IST). This family-friendly Istanbul hotel offers free WiFi and connecting rooms for families, and kids stay and eat free.

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