The presentation highlighted Turkey’s “increasing popularity” among Indians for destination weddings, with preferences for historical venues, palaces, cisterns, and waterside mansions.

H Deniz ERSÖZ, Culture and Tourism Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, said, “In 2022, we had 2.31 lakh Indian tourists, a record. It’s expected to increase to 2.7 lakh in 2023 and around 3.5 lakh in 2024.”

“Around 28 Turkish stakeholders came to this event, including travel agents, hoteliers and Indian restaurants operating in Turkey. We’re in collaboration with the Kolkata sector of TAAI as well and we are very happy with the response from them,” he added.

A presentation at the event revealed that 54 per cent of Indian tourists visited Istanbul, 11 per cent to Antalya, 9 per cent to Cappadocia, 5 per cent to Kusadasi, and 3 per cent to Pamukkale from January to November last year.

Onur Gözet, Deputy General Director of Promotion, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey said, “Kolkata has proven to be an enthusiastic audience, showcasing a keen interest in the rich cultural and touristic offerings of Turkey. The engaging discussions and positive interactions have reinforced our commitment to strengthening the ties between Turkey and India in the realm of tourism. As we progress on this journey, we eagerly anticipate sustaining this momentum and forging enduring partnerships that will prove mutually beneficial for both nations.”

(Taniya Acherjee is an intern at the Kolkata office of The Indian Express)