Turkey warmly welcomes Russians - Today's Zaman

R10-19-03-08.qxd 16.03.2008 21:46 Page 110 TODAY’S TOURISMMARCH 19-22, 2008AGENDAPHOTO TODAY’S ZAMANRussýan tourýsts outnumber Germans ýn TurkeyManny Fontenla-Novoa, thepresident of Thomas Cook, one ofEurope’s leading tourismcompanies, has said Russian touristsoutnumbered Germans in Turkey last year.Fontenla-Novoa was speaking toFocus magazine’s travel page andsuggested that Russian tourists are agood investment for the future.“Russians like to travel. Last year theyoutnumbered Germans as the biggesttourist group in Turkey,” he said.When asked about whichcountries the company would investin if the European market becomessaturated, Fontenla-Novoa said:“India, Russia and China, in thisorder. However, markets vary.Russians prefer Egypt and Turkey asthey like sun. Indians opt for culturetravel: Rome, Paris and London. Thismarket is quickly growing.”Another story published by themagazine introducing leading tourismcompanies in Germany argues that theyear 2008 could be a successfultourism year for Öger Tours.According to the story ÖgerTours, owned by EuropeanParliament member Vural Öger,served 1.4 million customers and sawan increase in its turnover of 16percent last year. With a headlinereading “New tourists conquer theworld,” the story noted that Ýstanbulis one of the most preferred cities forcity tours in Europe, prompting manyairlines to offer affordable flightsthere. Ýstanbul Today’s TourismPHOTO APTurkish popsinger TarkanTarkan to put mark onTurkish year in RussiaPop singers Tarkan, Sertab Erener andÞebnem Ferah and classical pianist ÝdilBiret will put their mark on culturalactivities that will be held in connectionwith the Year of Turkish Culture in Russia.Under a schedule prepared by theTurkish Ministry for Culture and Tourism inan attempt to promote Turkey in Russia,which declared 2008 the Year of TurkishCulture, a number of activities will be heldin Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan andSochi. According to the report by theAnatolia news agency, the Year of TurkishCulture will officially start with a concert bythe Presidential Symphony Orchestra atMoscow’s International Music Hall on April8. Tarkan, a popular singer well known inRussia, will also take part in the activitiesfor Turkish culture year.Officials from the Russian Federation’sCulture and Cinema Federal Agency(Roskultura), the institution responsible fororganizing the events, reportedly indicatedthat Tarkan’s participation in the project willmake a substantial contribution to Turkey’spromotion in Russia. The exact schedule forTarkan’s concert will be finalized soon.Erener will also take part in the events.Erener will perform Turkish folk songs witha jazz rendition in her concert. Ferah willtake the stage with a rock group toentertain rock-lovers in Russia. OtherTurkish artists who will contribute to theproject include jazz singer Ayþe Tütüncü.Chef Emre Aracý will give a concert to beaccompanied by the renowned Russianartist Yuri Bashmet. The “Taxim Trio,”formed with the participation of clarinetistHüsnü Þenlendirici, Ýsmail Tunçbilek andAytaç Doðan, will give a concert oftraditional Turkish tunes for the Russians inMoscow. The activities also include a danceperformance and a photo exhibition onRussia and Ýstanbul, featuring renownedTurkish photographer Ara Güler.Conferences and panel discussions willalso be held in Moscow, which will host anexhibition that will feature contemporaryexamples from Turkish art in the second halfof the year. Turkish culture year activitieswill also feature at a Moscow book fair inSeptember. The fair will host a number ofrenowned Turkish writers and artists whowill promote their works at the venue.Russians will also have the opportunityto sample Turkish food with special dishesto be prepared by renowned Turkish chefs,served at a special event in Moscow.The Moscow Film Festival is expected tofocus more on Turkish productions thisyear. “Selvi Boylum Al Yazmalým” (The Girlwith the Red Scarf), a 1970s classic Turkishmovie adapted from the novel by ChinghizAitmatov, will be screened at the festival, towhich the film’s leading actors, Kadir Ýnanýrand Türkan Þoray, will also be invited.The activities in St. Petersburg willinclude concerts by famous pop star Tarkanand renowned pianist Biret, and liveperformance by clarinet master Selim Sesler.Jazz pianist and composer KeremGörsev will take to the stage for a concertaccompanied by the St. PetersburgPhilharmonic Orchestra. Mercan Dede willalso give a concert in the city. Meanwhile,an exhibition to promote classical Turkishpaper marbling art ebru will be held in St.Petersburg, where another exhibition willfeature historical artifacts currentlypreserved at the Topkapý Palace to promoteTurkish culture in Russia. Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman