“Turkey has a very special association with India”
India and Turkey have a long history of close ties and there are many commonalities based on history and culture. H.E. Firat Sunel, Ambassador of The Republic of Turkey in India, is of the opinion that both countries are “rising stars in their respective regions.” In an exclusive interview with TTJ, Firat Sunel shares some delightful insights into the travel and tourism matters and aspects of Turkey in the Indian context. No wonder Turkey remains a promising and bucket list destination for many Indian travellers. Turkey had 51.2 million international tourist arrivals in 2019, and in 2020, it was 15.9 million. According to you, when can Turkey once again achieve tourism numbers of 2019?
2019 was most successful year for Turkish tourism in terms of the number of international arrivals. In 2019, our destination hosted 2.3 lakh Indian tourists, which was a record for India too. Current pandemic affected tourism industry most. However, we hope to witness a recovery in foreign tourist arrivals for our country very soon. When we look at the statistics for 2021, we see that between January-July, the number of foreign tourists coming to our country was 11.9 million. We expect to host around 25 million international visitors by the end of 2021. With the help of successful vaccination campaigns in Turkey and other countries, we expect to reach 2019 numbers by 2022 or 2023.
Pre-COVID, Turkey was becoming a popular destination with Indian tourists and even now it is on the wish list of many of them. On your embassy part, how do you look at this opportunity and also how are you facilitating and easing out travel for the desiring Indians during these uncertain times?
2018 and 2019 were very successful years for Turkish tourism in India. We hosted more than 2.3 lakh Indian tourists in 2019, with an increase of 55 per cent in comparison with 2018. This number was a record for us in India. I believe that with the expansion of direct flights between our countries, both the number of Indian tourists visiting to Turkey and Turkish tourists visiting to India will grow significantly in a short while. Our visa departments have been operating since June 2020 regularly. And e visa scheme for Indian citizens is still valid. Indian citizens who have a valid Schengen, UK or US visa can apply for Turkish e visa online and obtain his/her visa within 5-10 minutes.
Currently, what are the requirements and protocols for Indian travellers to visit Turkey?
I am very pleased to declare that, as of September 4th, fully vaccinated travellers from India will no longer be subjected to mandatory 14-day quarantine rule in Turkey. The vaccines that have been approved by WHO or Turkish Government are covered under this exemption. In addition to WHO approved vaccines, the vaccines approved by Turkish Government are Pzifer Biontech, Sputnik V and Sinovac. Indian traveller must be taken the second dose (if Johnson & Johnson, one dose is sufficient) at least 14 days prior to the date of travel. For Indian travellers who are vaccinated with Covishield will also be exempted from quarantine. I also believe that, once
Covaxin gets a nod from WHO, travellers vaccinated with Covaxin will also be able to visit Turkey as the people who have been vaccinated with Covishield. The fully vaccinated travellers are also required to submit their negative PCR test report taken 72 hours before departure in order to exempt the quarantine. Nonvaccinated travelers are required to undergo mandatory quarantine for 10 days in a hotel or a location mentioned in the declaration.
Tell us, what kind of visitor target are you looking at from India to Turkey in 2021-2022?
Turkey is a popular destination for FITs in India. We witnessed huge demand after the lifting of quarantine for fully vaccinated Indian travellers. In addition to FIT movements, Turkey has also become a popular country for MICE and Indian weddings. In this sense, I would like to mention that the number of Indian weddings that Turkey hosted in 2019 was 30. We also pay great attention to MICE movements. With the help of smooth visa system which we apply big MICE and Wedding Groups, we expect to host more groups in Turkey by 2021 and 2022. In order to maintain this growth rate, we will be conducting different specific activities for FIT, MICE and wedding segments in India in 2021 and 2022.
According to you, what is that about Turkey that inspires people to take a trip to the country?
From pristine beaches and clear blue waters to historical sites spanning back millennia, travellers from all over the world choose Turkey for their holiday each year. It is so diverse that there is always something new happening in some part of the country. Turkey maintains its popularity as a leading tourist destination with its unique coasts and rich natural beauty. And Turkey has a very special association with India.
Both India and Turkey share so much in common in terms of cuisine, general characteristics amongst our people, hospitality and even language. There are more than 9,000 words that are same or similar in both the languages. Sufism is another string that binds both the countries musically and culturally. Turkish dramas are very popular in India and likewise Bollywood is popular in Turkey. In last few years, there has been an increase in the number of Indian destination weddings in Turkey and also many Indian movies and videos have been shot in Turkey which has spiked interest to travel. These commonalities, along with so much more to see and explore, make Turkey a popular destination amongst Indian travellers.
On the tourism front, any new developments in Turkey?
I would like to mention Safe Tourism Certification Program, which has been at the heart of safety protocols of our tourism industry by the mid of 2020. As known, Turkey is one of the first countries in the World to introduce the Safe Tourism Certificate Program for the tourism industry. This certificate covers a broad range of measures, including transportation, accommodation, health condition of employees of the facilities and passengers. Granted by the international certification institutions, this system ensures the safety of the visitors, both domestic and international. Thanks to the Safe Tourism Certificate Program, the number of international visitors was more than 15 million in 2020 and we also aim to reach 25 million international visitors by the end of 2021.
From an Indian point of view, what would you recommend visitors to see and experience on a 10-day trip to Turkey?
As known, Turkey is considered as an open-air museum having 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. My recommendation differs for the visitors whether they are coming to country for the first time or not. For the first-time visitors, I would recommend Istanbul, Antalya and Cappadocia. As Napoleon Bonaparte says, “If the earth were a single state, İstanbul would be its capital.”
The natural beauty, cultural richness and foods of the Black Sea region attract many. Popular destinations on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, including Marmaris, Çeşme, Bodrum, and Fethiye, are a must for those who love sun, sand and beaches. Sunsets and hotair balloon rides in the Cappadocia valley have become a top tourist attraction so no one should miss it. For foodies, Gaziantep is a must visit as one gets to savour some authentic Turkish cuisine there. Gobeklitepe has the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which gives you a glimpse of the early history of civilization. With world-class hotels, restaurants, pristine beaches, mountains, adventure sports, nightlife, etc, there is plenty to see and explore in Turkey for everyone.
I would also like to mention the rich Turkish cuisine. Turkish cuisine is considered to be the most varied and richest in the world. The unique location of Turkey, combined with the migration of Turks over the centuries from Central Asia to Europe, has shaped the identity of its gastronomy. Besides, as a country which is located in Mediterranean coast, one can also find different dishes from Mediterranean cuisine. In addition to that, Turkey is a preferable destination for vegetarians as well. Turkish cuisine incorporates a huge range of vegetable dishes known as zeytinyagli yemegi - food cooked in olive oil. Traditional Turkish foods rely less on seasonings and more on tasty fresh ingredients.
Do you also agree that marketing and strategising has played an important role in raising the image of Turkey globally?
Turkey is at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East and that in itself makes it unique. Marketing & strategising is key for every destination in today’s scenario, and it is equally important for us. We have been actively working towards this across key markets. Our strategy is simple, communicate and showcase. We are very active on social media. Istanbul and Antalya are counted amongst the top 25 cities in the world’s best Instagrammable hotspot. We do roadshows, workshops and engage with stakeholders across all key markets and associate with platforms that could enhance Turkey’s visibility globally.