Turkey expects to draw more Russian tourists this year by as high as 20 percent with the onset of a new visa-free travel regime between the two countries, said Cumhur Guven Tasbasi, promotion director with the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The visa liberalization agreement, which was signed a during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to Ankara in May 2010, entered into force on April 16. Earlier this year, officials of the two countries signed a readmission agreement to take a step forward for completing procedures of visa-free regime that allows for 30 days of visa-free travel within a 90-day period.

Tasbasi said Russia was one the most important markets for Turkey, adding that the visa-free regime would also boost the number of Turkish tourists visiting Russia.

Over three million Russians visited Turkey last year as the figure is expected to reach to four million in 2011.

AA