A South African journey blogger who has visited Türkiye 33 instances is selling the nation globally, urging others to go to and praising its hospitality.
“I’m an avid traveler of Türkiye and I love the country. I’m asked over and over again, why do I keep returning? Thirty-three trips later, I can tell you it’s the hospitality, the kindness and delicious food of the country,” Marion Smith advised Anadolu Agency.
Smith has visited greater than 40 cities in Türkiye previously 10 years and she or he is usually invited by the Turkish Embassy in South Africa to relate her expertise to audiences throughout occasions.
“There is a reason for everyone to visit Türkiye, whether it’s one of the 491 blue flag beaches to relax on, or to see the world’s only blue flag lake, the Van Lake,” mentioned Smith, who publishes the Everything Turkish journal.
Smith has collected images from quite a few travels to Türkiye which she not too long ago printed into a photograph e-book.
This 12 months, the Turkish cultural heart in Johannesburg, Yunus Emre Institute, sponsored Smith and sketch artist Alex Maswanganyi to journey to Türkiye on a challenge, Türkiye by the eyes of two South Africans.
Maswanganyi sketched 10 images taken by Smith that have been exhibited in a number of cities, together with Istanbul, Antalya and Ankara.
“Turkish people were excited to see the art drawn by Maswanganyi and they wanted to learn more about the South African artist and how he got involved with Türkiye. We are very fortunate to have done this project and appreciate the kindness and hospitality of the Turkish people,” mentioned Smith.
Their works have been additionally showcased to a whole bunch who attended Türkiye’s 99th Republic Day celebrations on the residence of the Turkish ambassador within the South African capital of Pretoria.
Smith makes use of her journey weblog, journal and occasions to advertise Türkiye in South Africa.
“I’m the unofficial public relations officer of Türkiye,” she joked.
THOUSANDS OF SOUTH AFRICANS VISIT TURKIYE ANNUALLY
Türkiye is steadily turning into a vacationer vacation spot of alternative for South Africans.
About 50,000 South African vacationers visited Türkiye between January and September of 2022, making it one of many favourite vacation locations, Ayşegül Kandaş, the Turkish ambassador to Pretoria, advised Anadolu Agency.
Kandaş mentioned there may be additionally a rising curiosity in Turks coming to South Africa for tourism.
“We are currently working to increase the number of tourists going back and forth through our various cultural activities,” she mentioned.
Kandaş mentioned some cultural actions the embassy and Yunus Emre Institute are concerned in embrace organizing picture and artwork exhibitions and the promotion of Turkish delicacies and movies which draw enormous curiosity amongst South Africans.
She additionally famous that Türkiye is rising in popularity amongst South Africans due to Turkish TV collection being aired on native tv.
“These TV series are playing a big role in bringing South Africa and Türkiye closer despite the physical distance,” she mentioned, including that individuals who watch the collection usually wish to discover out extra in regards to the nation, its individuals, tradition and the meals, therefore the variety of vacationers is rising.
Kandaş mentioned her nation has additionally elevated the variety of scholarships for college kids making use of to check in Türkiye.
“This year we gave out 13 scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies, the highest number until now,” she mentioned.
The ambassador additionally mentioned that overseas college students who examine in Türkiye finally change into model ambassadors after they full their research and return house.
“They tell people about life in Türkiye, attractions, opportunities and eventually people get interested in visiting,” she mentioned.
Kandaş mentioned financial relations between the 2 nations are at their finest with the commerce quantity rising yearly.
“By the top of 2021, the commerce quantity reached $2 billion, and in August 2022 it climbed to $2.4 billion.
“We now expect the total trade volume to reach $3 billion by the beginning of next year,” she mentioned.
Kandaş mentioned there are 70 Turkish firms working in South Africa, and 66 South African firms working in Türkiye.
