DESTINATION | CHINA Ñ TURKEY China


The world's biggest country by population has grand plans for tourism and hospitality, following the 2008 Olympic Games


Forbidden City, Beijing W


ith a growing popula- tion of 1.3 billion and the largest land mass in Asia, the People's Repub- lic of China has ambitions of becoming the world's economic powerhouse and a major tour- ism and hospitality player. Following the success of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, which many ranked alongside Sydney as the best ever Games, the China State Council embarked on a strategic tourism plan at the end of 2009 to speed up the development of the country's fledgling tourism industry.


The plan called for a number of initiatives to be implemented focusing on service industry development, domestic and inter- national tourism and less obvious areas such as low-carbon tourism. The latter policy follows China's efforts to address international criticisms of its handling of the environment and challenges relating to poor air quality, which still plagues major cities such as Beijing. As part of the initiative, tour operators in the country must incorporate low-carbon tourism within their tourism develop- ment schemes in order to


achieve a reduction in green- house gas emissions within the next five years. Issues such as the use of clean energy sources are also on the country's agenda. As one of the world's oldest countries, China has plenty to offer international visitors. A centuries-old culture remains prevalent even in China's biggest cities and the country's herit- age and legacy can be found beyond destinations such as the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City in Beijing. A visit to the Chinese capital offers a number of must-see attractions. Cultural highlights include the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and the Tianan- men Gate, which was first built in 1417 during the Ming Dynasty. While Beijing's culture and history holds appeal for inter- national tourists, China's fastest growing cities demonstrate the impact of the country's rapid transformation into one of the world's top economies. The bustling, modern metropolises of Shanghai and Macau epitomise this change.


China's biggest city, Shanghai can initially prove daunting to international tourists. However, once familiarised, the city is rela- tively easy to navigate and offers a great mix of old and new China. While Shanghai has forged a reputation as a modern metropolis, its history and culture is on display at the various museums and monuments that can be found


The city has a host of major integrated resorts, the most recent of which is the City of Dreams. The precinct includes Hard Rock, Grand Hyatt and Crown hotels, tourist attractions including Kids City, Dragon's Treasure and the House of Dancing Water, a shopping mall and various restaurants and bars.


China's fastest growing cities demonstrate the impact of the country's rapid transformation into one of the world's top economies


across the city. Highlights include the Jade Buddha Monastery, the 900-year-old Shanghai Square Tower, the Shanghai Art Museum and the Shanghai History Museum. A day of sightseeing can be perfectly capped by a drink at the world's highest bar, cloud 9, which is located on the 87th


floor of the Grand


Hyatt hotel in Jin Mao tower. While Shanghai holds allure to culture vultures, the bustling city of Macau is fast earning a reputa- tion as the Las Vegas of the East. Macau attracted more than 11 million tourists in 2010, testa- ment to its growing reputation as the gaming capital of Asia. Yet, while it boasts more than 30 casi- nos, there is plenty to offer tour- ists not interested in gambling.


China Fact File


China is the second largest economy in the world in nominal US dollar terms, while geographically it is approximately the same size as the US, with a population of 1.3 billion. There are 122 cities in China with over one million people.


China's investment in clean energy in 2009 was US$34.6 billion, the highest in the world 86 percent greater than the US, which invests the second largest amount and 208 percent higher than the UK. China has also overtaken the US to become the second largest luxury goods market in the world after Japan.


Macau


Climate: China's vastness means the country's climate runs the gamut of freezing temperatures to blistering summers, depending on the location and time of year. The north of the country can experience temperatures of -30¡C in winter and 38¡C in summer, while in the south, winters are moderate and summers are warm to hot, with temperatures regularly hitting the mid-30s. Local time: GMT + 8 Currency: Chinese yuan. CNY1 = US$0.15 Language: Modern Standard Chinese, Cantonese and English.


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Turkey


Turkey's location at the crossroads of Asia and Europe adds a unique dimension to an ancient and culturally rich society


T


urkey's rise as an economic powerhouse has been mirrored by its growing popu- larity as an international tourism destination in recent years. The country attracted more


than 28 million foreign visitors in 2010, up from 24 million in 2009; a remarkable achieve- ment given the lingering impact


of the global recession on inter- national tourism.


The Middle East remains key to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism's campaign to attract more than 40 million visi- tors by 2020.


Indeed, growing numbers of tourists from regional countries are visiting Turkey annually.


According to official Turkish government figures, the number of tourists visiting from Syria and Lebanon almost doubled in 2010 to top 748,000 and 113,000 respectively (up from 390,000 and 62,500 in 2009). The trend was witnessed in other regional markets: Saudi Arabian tourists topped 76,000 in 2010 (up from 60,000 in 2009); Jordan, 86,000 (up from 76,000) and Iran, 1.65 million (up from 1.15 million the previous year).


Sultanahmet Mosque


Turkey at Arabian Travel Market Turkish Culture & Information Office EU210


Looking forward, Turkish authorities are anticipating huge growth in the country's medical and wellness tourism sectors. Recent Euromonitor research identified Turkey as an increas- ingly popular destination for recession-strapped Europeans seeking lower-cost healthcare services. The research identified key source markets as the Neth- erlands, UK, Belgium and France. The trend has also been identified among Middle East patients looking for a cheaper alternative to treatments offered in Europe. Turkey's natural attrib- utes are also attracting tourists


Bosphorus


Looking forward, Turkish authorities are anticipating huge growth in the country's medical and wellness tourism sectors


seeking wellness holidays and spa retreats. The country's ther- mal springs and spas located in the Aegean, Marmara and central Anatolia regions are driv- ing growth in this respect. Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, is recognised as the country's economic, cultural and historical powerhouse and one of its most popular destinations.


Key attractions include a trip to the Grand Bazaar, which still ranks as one of the largest covered markets in the world


with 60 streets and 5,000 stores; a visit to the Hagia Sophia, which is now a museum but was once an Orthodox patriarchal basilica and later a mosque; and a cruise down the stunning Bosphorus, which literally divides the city between Europe and Asia. Beyond Istanbul, regional destinations including Epheus, Hittites Bogÿazkšy and Cappado- cia, as well as the capital Ankara, all offer their own unique attractions making them worthy of a visit.


Turkey Fact File


Turkey boasts one of the world's fastest growing tourism industries and is one of the most popular destinations among resi- dents of the GCC. Turkey, six times the size of neigh- bouring Greece, borders seven countries, spans two continents and is sur- rounded by four seas. The country has a remarkable number of historical sites to explore. There are many UNESCO World Heritage Sites throughout Turkey, including in Istanbul, Troy, Pamukkale and Cappadocia.


Climate: Temperatures in Istanbul can range from 4¡C in winter to 30¡C in summer. In the Aegean region, winter lows hover around 9¡C and summer highs can reach 30¡C plus. Local time: GMT + 2 Currency: Turkish lira. TRY1 = US$0.65 Language: Turkish is the sole official language of Turkey. Kurdish is spoken in some regions, while English is mostly understood in the larger cities.


Cultural considerations: Turkey is a staunchly secular society. While the Turks take great pride in their openness, the usual factors of courtesy and respect should be abided by international visitors.


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