By Raynald C Rivera
DOHA: Turkey aims to double the number of Qatari tourists it attracts to 300,000 at the end of this year.
“There were more than 120,000 tourists from Qatar who visited Turkey last year and tourist arrival is increasing every year.
“This year we are targeting 300,000 tourists from Qatar,” Melis Ekin, Director of Business Development, Valley of Tourism (VOT) Turkey, told this daily yesterday.
Ekin was speaking on the sidelines of a Turkish tourism roadshow VOT organised for the first time last night at Shangri-La Hotel Doha.
The Qatari market is a lucrative for the tourism sector as Qatari tourists spend and stay longer, according to Ekin. “Qataris prefer luxury products. They are really looking for value for their money so they stay in luxury five-star properties and they stay longer,” she said, adding Qataris prefer Turkey as a destination.
“Turkey is one of the preferred destinations for Qataris because of our key connections with Qatar, no visa required and easy access.
“Istanbul, for example, offers a lot to Qatari tourists such as halal food, nice hotels, easy access and quality of services. Our cultures are similar so they feel at home. We have fruitful tourist traffic from Doha,” Ekin said.
Among the destinations in Turkey, the most preferred by tourists from Qatar is Istanbul followed by Bodrum and Bursa, she said, adding “Now Trabzon is an emerging destination because it is full of nature, all green area.”
More than 80 guests attended the gathering which witnessed interaction between Tukish Airlines, leading Turkish hotels and top tour operators in Doha. “The main aim is to promote Turkey as a destination and our tourism products and properties in Turkey in different areas like Bodrum, Antalya and Istanbul. “The event will provide Turkish hotels with an opportunity to meet top travel trade members along with other tourism services suppliers,” she said.
The Turkish hotels that took part in the roadshow included Cornelia Hotels Golf & Spa Antalya, Le Meridien Etiler Istanbul, Jumeirah Bodrum Palace, Mandarin Oriental Bodrum, The St Regis Istanbul and Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort Antalya which hosted G-20 Antalya summit.
The Peninsula
