Turkey is wooing Indian visitors offering the best of leisure and entertainment blending tradition and modernity.

"The Turkish Government and its airlines are looking at doubling the number of flights between the two countries from Delhi and Mumbai while also seeking to start lights from Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Ahmedabad," Ozgur Ayturk, Culture and Tourism Counsellor, Turkish Embassy, said.

Speaking to Business Line during his visit to Hyderabad along with a delegation from the hospitality sector, he said that a country with a population of about 72 million people attracts over 32 million tourists and ranks sixth among the States attracting maximum number of tourists to any country.

"If you compare this, India manages to attract about 5-6 million tourists annually. While we attract visitors from all over the world, the number of visitors from India is relatively low at 70,000 last year. We expect this will go up to 1,00,000 this year," he explained.

There is immense potential for Indians looking at new tourism destinations and Turkey fits the bill with its blend of modernity, tradition, beaches and night life, he said. More flights to India will be able to bring a lot more tourists to India too, he said.

The Turkish Tourism Board in association with the Turkish Hoteliers Federation is undertaking a five city road show between November 19 and 23 covering Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Delhi. This is aimed at facilitating interaction with travel operators and improving the tourist traffic.

Osman Ayik, President, Turkish Hoteliers Federation, said apart from art, history and food, tourists need to get acquainted with the opportunities for honeymooners, golf, matrimonial destination that travellers may like but are not aware of.

rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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