How has tourism from India to Turkey increased over the years?
Turkish Tourism has made a huge leap ahead in recent years and this has led to an increase in the number of tourists to Turkey. The total number of tourists who visited Turkey were 17,5 million with an increase of 25% in 2004 and in 2005 we had 21 million tourists resulting in an increase of 21% in the number of arrivals. Here in India, we are planning to open the Turkish Tourism and Counsellors Office. We are seeing the change in the tourism trends in India and as the outbound tourism from India is on the increase, we are sure that there will be growth in tourism to Turkey as well.

We had signed a Tourism Co-operation Agreement in 1995 with India and since then the tourism to Turkey has been growing. With the start of direct flights from Mumbai to Istanbul non-stop on Turkish Airlines we expect the numbers to grow in the coming years as well. We had 20000 visitors from India in 2004 and in 2005 there was a 32% increase with 26500 visitors from India who came to Turkey. Our objective is not only to tap the leisure market but also the MICE (Meetings Incentives Conventions and Exhibitions) segment and we are also looking at Bollywood and even television serials to shoot in Turkey. The tourism market in India has been showing a gradual increase and it prompted us to come here and evaluate its scope. We see tremendous opportunities in India and we have decided to open a cultural centre in New Delhi to promote Turkey and organize various events to increase awareness about Turkey.

In 2007, our main focus will to increase the thermal and health tourism projects to attract tourists all the year round. Turkey has over 1300 thermal resources including 240 spas and we plan to increase the spa tourist resorts in the coming years. The Ministry of Tourism has designated Balikesir, Bursa and Çanakkale as the first region for thermal tourism. The second region is made up of Aydin, Izmir, Denizli and Manisa, and the third region comprises of an area west of Ankara, Eskisehir, Kütahya and Afyon. The fourth region includes Sivas, Kirsehir, Nevsehir and Nigde.

From India we currently have four flights a week from New Delhi and three flights a week from Mumbai on our national carrier Turkish Airlines which flies directly into Istanbul. We plan increasing the frequency as we see an increase in the tourist traffic to our country. We also are planning to open a Consulate's Office in Mumbai as we see a rapid growth in tourism traffic in the coming years from India.

Turkey is strategically located between Asia and Europe and is a gateway for the purpose of tourism as well as business for both continents, besides being an associate member of the EU.

What are the initiatives taken to increase tourism traffic to Turkey?
We have signed an agreement with the Minister of Tourism from India Ms Ambika Soni and the new protocol for co-operation between India and Turkey which was signed recently will enhance the tourism potential between the two countries. From 2007, there will be a tourism office in India and the staff of the office will be from the Ministry of Tourism who will be working under the Directorship of our Ambassador. The objective would be to promote Turkey and to actively interact with the Travel Trade here in India.

Is it your first visit to India and what has been your experience?
It is my first visit here. However, I have always been fascinated by the art and literature that India has to offer. Tagore is a familiar name as I have read the work of Dr. Rabindranath Tagore when I was in high school as well as I am aware about the work of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and some of the Moslem leaders. I have also seen movies of Raj Kapoor and Nargis in my early days. Hence, the Indian Culture is quite familiar. It is good to see that the Indian Economy is growing as has been the case of China and earlier of Japan and Korea as well. So India is emerging as a major player in the World Economy. The Asian Countries are developing rapidly and this is a good sign.

What are the tourism opportunities for the Indian traveller to Turkey?
If you want to have a cultural itinerary then you must choose Istanbul otherwise it is entirely based on the preferences of the traveller. For sun, sand and beach the southern coast of Turkey is very popular especially the region of Aegean and the Mediterranean. The total coastal area of Spain is approximately 1300 kilometers whereas just one region of Turkey which is the Southeast has the same coastal area which is covering the coastal area of the whole of Spain. Turkey also organizes the Formula 1 and the year 2007 is the Mevlana Year - to mark the 800th anniversary of Mevlana Jelaladdin Rumi's birth. It has been accepted by the UNESCO and there will be wide celebrations not only in Turkey but also in other countries including India as well.

I have been elected from the city of Aydin so definitely that is one of my favourite places as it is one of the major cities in the Aegean region. The province of Aydin has many beaches as well as many monuments in places like Didyma, Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Pergamon, Miletus, Priene and the two of the seven ancient wonders of the world the Temple of Artemis and Apollo were from this province in Didyma.

AYDIN is located in southwestern Anatolia in the Aegean Region with its capital city of Aydin.
There are 17 districts in this province and many historical sites are within the province. Besides agricultural products, Aydin has its own University since 1992 and has grown to become a major tourism hub in Turkey with places like Kusadasi and Ephesus which receives a lot of tourists from across the globe. Some of the other historical sights include Didyma and Aphrodisias region date backs to 1962. Aphrodisias used ot be very earthquake prone and had suffered serious damage in the 4th and 7th centuries. The Temple of Aphrodite was and still is a focal point of the town which later became a Christian Basilica. The Aphrodisian sculptors became renowned and the school of sculpture was very productive; a lot of their work can be seen around the site and in the museum.

Lastly your message to readers
For the tourist, Turkey has a lot to offer - sun, sand, sea as well as some amazing World Heritage Sites. Turkey offers most memorable experiences be it for leisure or the MICE market or holiday makers.

About MEVLANA JELALUDDIN RUMI
Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, popularly known as Rumi in English was a 13th Century Persian poet, jurist and theologist. Born in Persia, he wrote poetry and his works are popularly across the Middle East and has following even in Europe. He died in Konya, Turkey and most of his work was produced during the Seljuk Empire. His name means “Majesty of Religion” and his work had a significant influence on Persian, Urdu and Turkish literatures. After his death, his followers founded the Mevlevi Order, better known as Whirling


Dervishes which is called the sema, a form ofdance and music ceremony which has become an intergral part of the Turkish customs, history, belief and culture. Rumi was laid to rest at the 13th century Mevlana Mausoleum in Konya. Konya, with its mosque, dance hall, dervish living quarters, school and tombs of some leaders of the Mevlevi Order continues to draw pilgrims from all parts of the Muslim and non-Muslim world.

About DIDYMA

Didyma or Didim as the Turks call it is a small town on the west coast of the Aegean Sea. The name probably refers to “twin” temples - the temple of Apollo and Artemis, as it was also considered a meeting place of Zeus and Leto. Today this place is surrounded by the village of Didim and many people from the larger cities have built their summer houses in this region. Didim has now become a popular holiday resort with long sandy beaches with watersports activities, hotels, waterpark and is still famous for the historical sites where once the Temple of Apollo and Artemis stood there. Today all one can find is the Iconic remains of the Apollo Temple and a few columns of the Artemis Temple, both of which were amongst the seven Didyma or Didim as the Turks call it is a small town on the west coast of the Aegean Sea.


The name probably refers to “twin” temples - the temple of Apollo and Artemis, as it was also considered a meeting place of Zeus and Leto. Today this place is surrounded by the village of Didim and many people from the larger cities have built their summer houses in this region. Didim has now become a popular holiday resort with long sandy beaches with watersports activities, hotels, waterpark and is still famous for the historical sites where once the Temple of Apollo and Artemis stood there. Today all one can find is the Iconic remains of the Apollo Temple and a few columns of the Artemis Temple, both of which were amongst the seven

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