In 2011, a total 330,000 Polish tourists came to Turkey. This summer, that figure is expected to reach 370,000. Forty-two percent of tourists that come to Turkey prefer to vacation in the Antalya region. In addition to the sea, sand and sun, Polish tourists also enjoy touring areas of cultural, historical and archaeological importance in Anatolia. While Spain is the number one destination for Polish tourists followed by Greece, Turkey has now become the Poles third top destination to travel.

GTI Poland Tourism Travel Agency Culture and Tourism Specialist Archeologist Magdalena Komendant explains that three days a week they offer cultural, history and archaeology tours at the Ancient City at Side for Polish tourists that come to Antalya. Komendant states that last year alone, they took 110,000 Polish tourists on cultural and archaeological tours in Antalya and says that they hope to bring that number up to 150,000 this year.

"Over the past two years, there has been a ten percent increase in the number of Polish tourists that come to Turkey. This increase is ongoing. On Anatolia tours, Polish tourists prefer cultural and archaeological tourism, whereas those who come to Antalya and Muğla prefer sea, sand and sun tourism. The Polish tourist potential in Antalya is huge," explains Komendant.

Manavgat Side Touristic Hoteliers Union Association (MATOB) Chairman Cengiz Haydar Barut says that during the Ramadan holiday all hotels in Side-Manavgat were 100 percent full. According to Barut, the liveliness of domestic tourism contributed significantly to filling capacity over the holiday.