The company has carried more than 2 million passengers to Turkey, 1 million of which is only from Germany, and it is planning a big program with Öger Tour for the country’s winter season, chairman Peter Fankhauser told the Anatolia news agency.

Thomas Cook will also start carrying Russian tourists to Turkey starting from June, he said.

The company is the market leader in tour operating business in Turkey with a 27 percent share, he added. TUI and Airtours follow with 25 percent and 12 percent respectively, according to the chairman.

“We're working to create a great hotel chain in Turkey. We will increase the number of our hotels to eight from current three,” he said.

The company has become Europe’s top operator to Turkey after the Öger acquisition, he said.

It ranks second in overall business volume in Europe and Germany with its 2.3 billion euros of annual revenue, according to the chairman.

Thomas Cook owns 34 Sentido Hotels across the world.

“We trust in the future of tourism in Turkey. The country has a very good hotel concept. The services offered are successful.”