STORY: Istanbul's number of tourists breaks record, signaling promising year
SHOOTING TIME: June 4, 2024
DATELINE: June 5, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:23
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Istanbul
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): HAMIT KUK, Chief adviser to TURSAB president
3. various of Istanbul
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): HAMIT KUK, Chief adviser to TURSAB president
5. various of Istanbul
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): YILDIRIM TAS, TURSAB board member
7. various of Istanbul airport

STORYLINE:

Türkiye's bustling city Istanbul set a record high by welcoming 5.2 million foreign visitors in the first four months of this year, signaling promising prospects for the country's ambitious goal of tourism for this year.
   
Istanbul's unique allure has resulted in a notable 10-percent increase in visitors during the January-April period compared with last year, according to data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
   
The ministry's recent data also revealed that the number of foreign tourists increased by 11.75 percent in the whole country, reaching 10.7 million in the same period.
   
Hamit Kuk, chief adviser to the president of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TURSAB), said this remarkable influx underscored Istanbul's enduring appeal, signaling a broader rebound in tourism.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Turkish): HAMIT KUK, Chief adviser to TURSAB president
"Achieving an annual growth rate of 10 percent is an ideal and healthy figure. It is ideal to put it at 10 percent every year. June appears hovered for exceptional occupancy rates. As we approach July and August, the peak of the tourism season, optimism is already soaring in the city."
   
Spanning across the continents of Europe and Asia, Istanbul with a population of 16 million people is uniquely situated along the Bosphorus Strait, adding to its rich cultural and geographical significance, Kuk noted.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Turkish): HAMIT KUK, Chief adviser to TURSAB president
"Istanbul, a captivating metropolis, pulsates with life round the clock and boasts a history, rendering it one of the world's oldest cities. Its alluring charm also lies in its vibrant culinary scene, offering a tapestry of flavors that enchant visitors from around the globe. It is also the financial heart of the country as well as a museum city. Wherever you are, you see history."

Russia, Germany and Iran had the highest number of visitors to Istanbul this year, followed by the United States, France, Britain, and Saudi Arabia.
   
Yildirim Tas, a TURSAB board member, emphasized that Istanbul should increase its promotional activities to attract tourists from diverse regions worldwide.
   
SOUNDBITE 3 (Turkish): YILDIRIM TAS, TURSAB board member
"For mass tourism to be viable, the flight distance ideally should be under 4 hours. This allows tour operators to easily organize charter flights, attracting passengers in groups. However, once the flight duration exceeds 4 to 4.5 hours, the likelihood of mass tourism decreases significantly."
   
To tackle this obstacle, Tas suggested that Türkiye ramp up its promotional efforts, like producing documentaries showcasing Istanbul on YouTube and other online platforms.
   
Speaking at a gastronomy event in Istanbul last Thursday, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said Türkiye's tourism income reached some 56 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, up 12 percent from the previous year, while the number of tourists hit 56.7 million.
   
Türkiye's tourism target for 2024 is 60 billion dollars in revenue and 60 million tourists, he said.

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