Turkey sets sight on welcoming 3.5 lakh Indian tourists in 2024, ET TravelWorld

Turkey is setting ambitious goals for tourism, aiming to welcome 3.5 lakh Indian tourists in 2024, said Onur Gozet, Deputy General Director of Promotion, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, during a joint roadshow in Delhi.

“India is an increasingly important market for Turkish tourism. The number of Indian tourists visiting Turkey has been increasing year on year and this growth trend is a testament to the growing interest and rapport between our nations. In 2022, despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, we welcomed 2.3 lakh Indian tourists. Though the numbers are not out yet, for last year, we expect that this figure rose to 2.7 lakh. Our target for 2024 is 3.5 lakh, a significant milestone in our efforts to strengthen bilateral ties through tourism,” he stated.

Speaking during the roadshow jointly hosted by Travel Agents Association of India & The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkiye and Turkiye Tourism and Promotion Agency, Gozet also underscored the role of airlines in enhancing connectivity between the two countries. He noted the existing services provided by Turkish Airlines and IndiGo between Istanbul and major Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai, with plans for expanded routes will further stimulate tourist inflows. Presently, there are 14 flights per week, with each carrier operating flights from the aforementioned cities.“Our aim is to increase the number of flights with plans for further expansion to other Indian cities in near future,” he shared.

Adding to this, Gozet emphasised the goal of elevating India to one of the top ten tourism source markets within the next two to three years for Turkey. Highlighting Turkey’s growing popularity among Indian couples seeking destination weddings, Gozet described last year’s surge as ‘remarkable’.

“We are actively targeting the Indian wedding segment, considering it a strategic avenue for promoting Indian culture within the country,” he stated.

Gozet also elaborated on Turkey’s appeal for destination weddings, citing its unique historical venues, waterside mansions, royal palaces along the Bosphorus, luxurious hotels, and other picturesque locales ideal for hosting the wedding ceremonies. In addition to weddings, Indians are drawn to Turkey for its rich culture, history, events, shopping opportunities, and other MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) activities, as revealed by Gozet during his presentation.

Speaking during the roadshow, the Ambassador of Turkey in India, Firat Sunel acknowledged the streamlined visa procedures, particularly the hassle-free e-Visa system, designed to expedite the entry process for Indian travellers. “For group travellers attending events like MICE or weddings, we’ve streamlined the visa application process, ensuring quick and efficient issuance with less documentation. These initiatives aim to enhance the overall tourist experience and further boost visitor numbers between our nations,” he said. The roadshow’s timing is crucial, said the ambassador reflecting on last year’s G20 meetings in India which spurred significant diplomatic activity, with Turkey’s top officials visiting. “This engagement has positively impacted bilateral relations, including tourism. Enhanced people-to-people exchanges contribute to deeper understanding and stronger relations between our countries. Our aim is not only to encourage Indian tourists to visit Turkey but also to promote travel from Turkey to India,” he added.

Echoing Sunel’s thoughts, Jyoti Mayal, President, TAAI, spoke about the significance of tourism as a catalyst for fostering people-to-people connections. She stressed the importance of sustained engagement between the two countries through initiatives like roadshows to fortify relationships and drive tourism growth. “We believe that these engagements will further encourage innovation and increase footfalls, creating stronger opportunities for both tourism and economic growth,” she stated.

Mayal further underscored the evolving landscape of travel post-pandemic, noting shifts in traveller demographics as well as the agents’ way of doing travel business. She emphasised the need for continuous training and specialisation among travel professionals to effectively promote destinations like Turkey. Embracing the vision of becoming Turkey specialists, Mayal emphasised the pivotal role of education and collaboration with TAAI to ensure seamless travel experiences for Indian tourists.

Concluding the first leg of the roadshow, the Delhi event witnessed participation from over 200 tourism fraternity members of Turkey and India. It also served as a pivotal platform for showcasing the destination tourism offerings to the Indian travel trade community. The 6-city roadshow will continue its journey with subsequent sessions to be held in Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and the concluding event in Ahmedabad.