Attracting thousands and thousands of vacationers from around the globe, Türkiye is now seeing a rising curiosity amongst vacationers from South Africa. About 50,000 South African vacationers visited Türkiye between January and September 2022, making it one of many favourite vacation locations, Ayşegül Kandaş, the Turkish ambassador to Pretoria, informed Anadolu Agency (AA) Friday.
Kandaş mentioned there’s additionally a rising curiosity amongst Turks visiting South Africa for tourism. “We are currently working to increase the number of tourists going back and forth through our various cultural activities,” she said. Kandaş elaborated that some cultural activities at the embassy and the Yunus Emre Institute are involved in organizing photo and art exhibitions, and the promotion of Turkish cuisine and films, which draw huge interest among South Africans. She also noted that Türkiye is becoming more popular among South Africans because of Turkish TV series being aired on local television. “These TV collection are enjoying a giant position in bringing South Africa and Türkiye nearer regardless of the bodily distance,” she mentioned, including that individuals who watch the collection usually wish to discover out extra in regards to the nation, its folks, tradition and meals, and therefore the rising numbers of vacationers.
Kandaş mentioned her nation has additionally elevated the variety of scholarships for college students making use of to check in Türkiye. “This year we gave out 13 scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies, the highest until now,” she said. The ambassador also said that foreign students who study in Türkiye eventually become brand ambassadors when they complete their studies and return home. “They inform folks about life in Türkiye, points of interest, alternatives and ultimately folks get to go to,” she mentioned.
Kandaş mentioned financial relations between the 2 international locations are at their greatest with the commerce quantity rising yearly. “By the tip of 2021, the commerce quantity reached $2 billion, and in August 2022 it climbed to $2.4 billion. We now anticipate the entire commerce quantity to succeed in $3 billion by the start of subsequent yr,” she added. She mentioned there are 70 Turkish corporations working in South Africa, and 66 South African corporations in Türkiye.
A South African journey blogger who has visited Türkiye 33 instances is selling the nation globally, praising the hospitality and urging others to go to. “I’m an avid traveler in Türkiye and I really like the nation. I’m requested again and again, why do I hold returning? After 33 journeys, I can let you know it’s the hospitality, kindness and scrumptious meals of the nation,” Marion Smith mentioned.
Smith has visited greater than 40 cities in Türkiye prior to now 10 years and he or she is usually invited by the Turkish Embassy in South Africa to relate her experiences 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 at, or to see the world’s only Blue Flag lake, Van Lake,” mentioned Smith, who publishes the Everything Turkish journal. Smith has collected images from quite a few travels to Türkiye, which she just lately revealed into a photograph guide.
This yr, the Turkish cultural middle in Johannesburg, the Yunus Emre Institute, sponsored Smith and sketch artist Alex Maswanganyi to journey to Türkiye on a venture entitled, “Türkiye Through 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 folks have been excited to see the paintings sketches drawn by Maswanganyi and needed to be taught extra in regards to the South African artist and the way he bought concerned with Türkiye. We are very lucky to have this venture carried out and respect the kindness and hospitality of the Turkish folks,” Smith added. Their works have been additionally showcased to a whole lot 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.
