The executives of Trip.com, the world's largest online travel platform based in China, came together with hotel managers in Antalya at Limak Lara Deluxe Hotel hosted by TGA and Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (AKTOB).

AKTOB President Kaan Kavaloğlu started his speech by emphasizing that tourism traffic between our countries started to increase rapidly after the Chinese government included Turkey in the list of countries where group travel can be made as of August 2023 and said, “Last year, 248,119 Chinese tourists visited Turkey. In the first seven months of this year, the number of Chinese visitors to Turkey reached 230,819 with an increase of 102.46% compared to the same period of the previous year. Our first goal is to reach the pre-pandemic level of 500,000 Chinese visitors. Then, we want to host one million Chinese visitors a year and grow this success.”

“We Focus on Raising Awareness”

Stating that Chinese tourists prefer more experience-oriented travel, exploring historical and cultural sites and natural beauties, Kavaloğlu said, “The diversity that Turkey offers, from sports to outdoor adventures, gastronomy to wine tourism, romantic vacations to solo travel, perfectly matches the demands of Chinese travelers. With TGA, we focus on raising awareness of Turkey's wide range of destinations and experiences. Our future development plans for China are mainly focused on developing new business networks. We aim to build strong partnerships with leading airlines, Chinese tour operators and online travel agencies. We will intensify our marketing and promotion campaigns.”

Turkey is an Important Destination for Chinese Tourists

Underlining that Trip.com is a valuable partner, Kavaloğlu said, “As two countries sharing the ancient Silk Road and thousands of years of cultural and historical interaction, we believe that we can make Turkey the best destination for Chinese tourists and offer them a seamless, enriching and unforgettable travel experience.”