STORY: Türkiye's tourism sector happy to host Chinese tourists during Spring Festival holiday
SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage/Feb. 9, 2024
DATELINE: Feb. 12, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:26
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. footage of Istanbul Airport in Türkiye
2. footages of Chinese tourists in Istanbul Airport, Türkiye
3. footages about Irfan Karsli, head of Istanbul-based travel agency Ligarba
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): IRFAN KARSLI, Head of Istanbul-based travel agency Ligarba
5. footage of Chinese tourist group in Istanbul, Türkiye
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): HAMIT KUK, Chief adviser to the president of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association

STORYLINE:

Representatives of the Turkish tourism sector are looking forward to welcoming Chinese tourists during the eight-day Spring Festival holiday, which began Feb. 10 this year.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): IRFAN KARSLI, Head of Istanbul-based travel agency Ligarba
"The Spring Festival is the biggest occasion for family reunions and traveling abroad for millions of Chinese people. Chinese tourists love Türkiye and see our country as one of the top destinations they definitely want to visit."

"We want to host them in the best way we can," Karsli said in an interview with Xinhua on Friday.

Hamit Kuk, chief adviser to the president of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association, said Türkiye's tourism authorities have been working hard to lure more Chinese tourists.

Soundbite 2 (Turkish): HAMIT KUK, Chief adviser to the president of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association
"In this regard, Turkish and Chinese airlines are offering reciprocal flights. This is very positive in this respect."

Kuk said Türkiye's visa procedures are very easy to handle for Chinese tourists, adding that they are expecting many more Chinese tourists to visit the country. 

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)