Turkey and northern Cyprus specialist Metak Holidays hopes to achieve 30% growth this year following disappointing sales last year.

Managing director Akin Ors said the outbreak of bird flu at the beginning of 2006 plus a number of terrorist attacks throughout the year left the operator struggling to obtain early bookings. Only the late summer and autumn saw a bookings revival.

However, he said with January 2007 already showing a 40% year-on-year increase in enquiries and a 14% rise in bookings, he is confident the destination will grow in popularity this year.

Ors said: “The trends already suggest this summer will be a lot better.”

As a result, the operator is including five new properties in Turkey and a further three in northern Cyprus while an extra four flights to the north of the island will bring the total on offer to 11.