According to Turkey’s civil aviation authority’s figures, the number of tourists that enjoyed hot-air balloon tours in Cappadocia in central Anatolia increased by 63 percent in 2018, Dünya newspaper reported on Saturday.

Some 537.500 tourists flew with air balloons in Cappadocia over the year, generating an income of almost $80 million for Turkish economy, Dünya said.

The highest number of hot air ballon tours were organised in October. Prices of one-hour tours vary between $137 and $194 per person depending on the company, Dünya said.

“2018 was an excellent year for tourism and Cappadocia’s balloon sector. Ninety percent of people coming to our region want to fly with balloons,” Mustafa Durmaz, head of a tourism cooperative in Cappadocia said.

Cappadocia is known as a perfect location for hot-air ballon flights due to its landscape and weather conditions.

With its underground cities, cave churches and houses carved in the rocks, Cappadocia is one of the most popular touristic destinations in Turkey.