Qatari
exchange companies have confirmed that the low exchange rate of the Turkish
lira has increased the market demand of travelers from Qataris and Southeast
Asia and Europe residents towards Turkey.
Managers
of these companies explained to the Qatari newspaper Al-Arab, That the low lira
price was an important tourist attraction for Turkey, especially as it is a
tourist country with excellence multiple options and variety, stressing that
the Turkish lira topped the list of required currency and share the forefront
with the dollar, while overtaking the euro.
They
pointed out that before the holiday season, Qataris were keen to buy the lira
to support Turkey then turned to buy it for a tourism purpose in Turkey, which
has become the preferred destination for many of them and also residents, expecting
that the large demand will continue over the next month.
Jumaa
al-Mu'adi, the chief executive of one of the exchange companies, told the
newspaper that his company recorded a large demand for the lira until it runs
out on a daily basis and the company is constantly securing currency reserves
from Kuwait, where sometimes there are some difficulties due to the large
demand.
He
pointed out that about 30% of currency buyers during the current season require
the Turkish lira, which has become a rival to the dollar at the top of the required
currencies by those wishing to travel, where every 3 out of 10 people asking
for the lira and the rest of the world other currencies.
He
pointed out that the demand for the Turkish currency has been increasing
steadily since last June, and continues in the same pattern until the current
period, explaining that the company is now securing the stock of the lira
almost every two days, in contrast, we used to secure it once a week in the preceding
months.
Qatar's
tourism to Turkey has seen significant leaps in recent years. According to
Qatar Chamber data, the number of Qataris visiting Turkey annually rose from
600 people 15 years ago to about 46,000 last year with 77 times increase.