Liverpool FC ink Turkish deal

The Turkish Tourism Board is ramping up its campaign to attract more Brits to the country by signing a two-year partnership deal with Liverpool Football Club.

Thousands of British holidaymakers sample Turkish delights each year and the nation's tourism board wants to entice a few more by tapping into the sports industry.

It is thought that Liverpool fans in particular will be attracted to cheap summer holidays there as it was in the Turkish city of Istanbul where the Reds won their historic fifth European title in 2005.

"Over one quarter of those taking package-holidays to Turkey do so from the North West of England so this area is very important to Turkey. Of course, the fact that Liverpool FC plays in red and white is a bonus too," Tolga Tuyluoglu, director of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in London, said.

According to a survey conducted by the Post Office earlier this year, Turkey is now challenging Spain as the UK's favourite holiday hotspot.

Posted by Jamie Manterfield