CGT 5-6 10/11/09 17:30 Page 46
knowledge Turkey
ttglive.com
Selling guide
Cash in on a
Cultural city
Here’s what’s in store for Capital of Culture
Istanbul for 2010. By Katherine Lawrey
I
n 2008 Istanbul received seven million visitors. Before the global
crisis, the city’s target for 2010 was 10 million – and although
other European nations have suffered a drop in visitors numbers,
the tourist office said it was on track to meet this target, thanks to
the city being named European Capital of Culture for 2010.
Hakan Citik, tourism and promotion specialist, Istanbul 2010, said:
“Istanbul’s average annual growth before the economic crisis was
12-13%. This year it dropped to 2-3% but that growth is still positive,
which is better than some of our European neighbours.”
Citik said that the European Capital of Culture status had driven hotel
growth in the city: “Next year we will have more than 100,000 beds in
the city.”
The average length of stay for a tourist in the city was 2.3 days, Citik
added, but the aim was to increase that to three or four days. “The aver-
age spend per tourist per stay is currently $750 and we hope to increase
that to $1,000 by the end of 2010 by enticing tourists to stay for longer.
If so, the Istanbul tourism industry would generate $10 billion a year.”
He urged UK agents to start promoting the European Capital of Culture
as the ideal opportunity to visit Istanbul, saying: “Istanbul is a big cultural
city, there is so much to see and do, and this special year will provide
even more in the way of events, exhibitions, visual arts and sightseeing.
Istanbul next year will be the most exciting city break in the world.”
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