Turkey's tourism minister has apologised for describing Russian tourists as boorish "nouveaux riches".
"Russians throw lots of money around with all the lack of breeding of the nouveaux riches," Turkish media quoted Atilla Koc as saying.
He also criticised German tourists for being too stingy.
Mr Koc later said he had been speaking in jest and that his remarks had been misunderstood.
"We are deeply sorry, we had no bad intentions. I have sent a letter of apology to the Russian ambassador explaining the incident," Mr Koc said, adding he had meant to sound positive about the Russians for spending so freely.
About two million Germans and 1.7 million Russians visited Turkey in 2004 - the biggest national tourist groups. Most head to its Mediterranean and Aegean coastal resorts.
