A programme called “Muslim for a Month” is inviting non-Muslims to “test drive” the religion, immersing them in Islam without converting them.
Run by a social enterprise called the Blood Foundation, which previously organised a similar “Monk for a Month” experience, participants are charged a minimum fee.
People taking part pray five times a day, fast and forsake pork and alcohol, with the idea that their experience will help improve interfaith relations.
BBC Asian Network met Barbra Taylor, who tried out the programme in Istanbul, Turkey.
via BBC News – Muslim for a month: Can you ‘test drive’ a religion?.
Tourism revenues in 2011 will grow fastest in Istanbul among some 132 cities over the globe, surpassing even New York and Amsterdam in terms of number of visitors, according to research. Forecast for revenues stands at $10.2 billion
Some 9.4 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Istanbul this year, thus marking the city the third with the largest rise in the number of tourists. DAILY NEWS photo, Hasan ALTINIŞIK
Istanbul will top the list of 132 cities whose tourism income will grow the fastest in 2011, expanding at 30.1 percent and reaching a level of $10.2 billion, according to a city index developed by MasterCard Worldwide.
The city’s tourism income will increase by 30.1 percent this year, according to the MasterCard Target Cities Index that was published on Saturday. In terms of tourism income growth rates, Istanbul is followed by Barcelona, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The index analyzes world renowned cities’ potential in tourism and tourism expenditures, including the increase in the number of visitors and in their expenditures in some 132 cities.
The income generated from Istanbul’s tourism by the end of the year will be $10.2 billion, according to the index that ranks the city in 12th place. London is expected to earn the largest tourism income in 2011 worth $25.6 billion. It is followed by New York, Paris, Bangkok and Frankfurt with $20.3, $14.6, $14.4 and $14 billion in revenue respectively.
The index predicts the total number of foreign tourists visiting Istanbul in 2011 to reach 9.4 million, ahead of cities such as New York, Rome, Amsterdam and Milan. London is expected to attract the largest number of tourists with 20.1 million foreign visitors. It is followed by Paris and Bangkok with 11.5 and 11.4 million tourists respectively, whereas Istanbul is seventh on the list with 9.4 million visitors.
At a growing rate of 20.4 percent, Istanbul is the third city that will have the largest increase in its number of tourists compared to 2010. According to the index, the cities preceding Istanbul are Spain’s Barcelona and Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, with 24.3 and 21.8 percent increases in the number of tourists respectively.
Istanbul is a city on the rise due to its strategic geographic position between Europe and Asia, its rich history and cultural heritage, according to Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, one of the economic advisers of MasterCard Worldwide Global.
Public services will be key for generating income and employment in the future. Istanbul could become Turkey’s cradle for information on the economy and take advantage of innovative industries such as congress tourism, Wong said. “If the right investments are made and the right urbanization policies implemented … investments will be highly cost-efficient in the future.”
via Istanbul’s tourism to earn $10.2 billion – Hurriyet Daily News.
Azerbaijan, Baku, July 2 / Trend, I. Isabalayeva /
Last year, Turkey was visited by 436,000 Azerbaijani tourists. It is expected that this year the number of Azerbaijani tourists visiting this country will hit 500,000 people, Chairman of Tourist Market Investors Association of Turkey (TYD), Turgut Gur told journalists.
“Turkish programs should be applied to promote Azerbaijan. First of all, all programs of the “Eurovision-2012″, to be held in Azerbaijan, should be made public for this purpose. They will be publicized next month,” Gur said.
In the future, Azerbaijan will get even more income from tourism, he said.
Azerbaijan needs to create other tourist services not related to the Caspian Sea to attract European tourists, the Turkish expert believes.
“Of course, the Caspian Sea is regarded as a cold sea. There are few people in Europe who can say “I am going to the Caspian Sea”. So another work should be done here. Tourists visiting Azerbaijan will get acquainted with the culture and cuisine, and it is necessary to increase the number of advertisements related to Azerbaijan’s tourism potential on world television channels,” Gur said.
via Some 500,000 Azerbaijani tourists to visit Turkey in 2011 | Society | Trend.
A city of excess in all areas, Istanbul is both a hub of ancient history and one of the most successful models of modernity.
Lifestyle
One of the most striking things about Turkey’s largest city is its youthfulness. Long celebrated for its mix of East and West, Istanbul capitalises on its ancient roots even as it moves into the 21st century. The Sultanahmet district is the old city; Beyoğlu is the 19th-century European quarter; Nisantasi, with its malls and restaurants, is the stomping ground of the bourgeoisie; lastly, the Asian side offers leafy neighbourhoods and swanky waterfront pads. And swirling about everything is the Bosphorus, the body of water that defines Istanbul.
SHOP AT…
The Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, sells everything from jewellery, leather and carpets to belly-dancing costumes. In Beyoğlu, Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Ave) is Istanbul’s answer to high-street shopping. For more unique finds, try Atelier 55 for Turkish couture and Vie en Rose for organic oils and cosmetics. If you love antiques, head to Cukurcuma.
EAT AT…
Kumkapi, an old Greek and Armenian district, is awash with inexpensive fish restaurants. If you’re looking for contemporary Turkish, visit Cezayir in Beyoğlu, which is on “French street”, named for its kooky Parisian vibe. If you want your food and clubbing in one place, Reina serves international food before turning into a club. For top-end dining, people-spotting and views to die for, Ulus 29 offers the ultimate Istanbul experience. Just make sure you dress for the part.
STAY AT…
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus offers some of the city’s best views from beautifully appointed modern rooms in a 19th-century former palace. Located on the European bank, it offers some serenity away from the city’s frenetic pace. A visit to the hotel’s Turkish bath, or hammam, is a must, bringing total luxury to this authentic experience. For a more central stay, try the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, which is smaller, but equally luxurious.
DON’T MISS…
The exquisite Hagia Sophia was built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 537AD, converted to a mosque in 1453, and is now a museum. Topkapi Palace was the home of the Ottoman sultans for 400 years: get lost in its mosques, residences, harem, bakery, stables and libraries. In summer, the giant club, bar and restaurant complexes on the Bosphorus come alive. For a casual taste of this bustling city, take a wander around the Asmalı Mescit district to see local life at its best.
HOW TO GET THERE…
Flight Centre has return airfares from Sydney to Istanbul several times a week flying Emirates, from $1949; Malaysia Airlines, from $1912; and Etihad Airways, from $2347. Call 1300 939 414 or visit
Turkey’s Turquoise Coast lures tourists from GCC countries
1 July 2011
DUBAI — Holidaymakers from GCC countries have shown an increasing interest in Turkey, especially its coastal provinces, according to the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Turkey coastal cities have witnessed unprecedented reservations by their local hotels and resorts this summer, recording a 58 per cent surge compared to the same period last year.
The Turkish Riviera or The Turquoise Coast is a popular term used to define an area of southwest Turkey encompassing Antalya, Mugla and to a lesser extent Aydýn and Izmir provinces and is a popular tourist destination.
The region is known for its pleasant and favorable climate, with more than a thousand kilometres of shoreline along the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea, housing archaeological and natural riches. This stretch of Turkish coastline is strewn with ancient cities and harbours, memorial tombs and warm beaches and is laced with many small coves, lush forests and streams which make it a frequent destination for Blue Voyages. Sedat Gonulluoglu, Cultural and Information Attaché at the Turkish Tourism and Cultural Office in Dubai, stated that during 2010, 55,000 tourists from the UAE visited Turkey.
This year is witnessing an increased demand in hotel and resort bookings for summer holidays not only from UAE tourists but also from other GCC countries. Besides Istanbul, a majority of these tourists is heading towards the southern coast of Turkey and specifically Antalya and Bodrum,” said onulluoglu.
While the number of visitors coming to Antalya from the GCC countries has increased by 50 per cent, visitor numbers are expected to increase further by the end of this summer, he said.
“Bodrum and Antalya are the most stunning places on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Bodrum is a paradise for its climate, sea, natural beauty, magnificent coves and history, as well as for its modern nightlife where the show goes on until sunrise. Its many resorts and hotels cater for every need of their visitors. Antalya also has a backdrop of stunning mountain scenery, and the city is set high on cliffs, with many of its grandest hotels overlooking the sea on the outskirts of the town,” said Gonulluoglu. — issacjohn@khaleejtimes.com
via Turkey’s Turquoise Coast lures tourists from GCC countries.
The number of tourists visiting Turkey is increased by 14.56 percent in the first five months of this year compared to the same period of 2010.
According to the information received from Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, some 9.25 million tourists visited Turkey in the January-May period. The number of tourists visiting Turkey in May was 3.28 million, a 4.28 percent increase over the same month of 2010. Istanbul received the highest number of tourists in the first five months with 2.78 million, while the number of tourists visiting Antalya was 2.70 million.
Germany sent the highest number of tourists to Turkey in the January-May period of this year with 1.39 million, followed by Russia with 876,000 and Iran with 747,000 in the same period. The percentage of tourists visiting Turkey from the UK, Bulgaria, France, Georgia, the Netherlands, Syria and Greece increased by 6.5percent, 6 percent, 4.29 percent, 4.18 percent, 3.88 percent, 3.81 percent and 2.74 percent, respectively, compared to the first five months of 2010. However, Russia topped the list of the countries sending the highest number of tourists to Turkey in May of this year with 525,301. This figure was 340,373 in 2009 and 454,369 in 2010. Russia was followed by Germany (457,645), the UK (339,830), the Netherlands (158,893), Bulgaria (153,551), Iran (141,119), France (133,406), Georgia (101,146), Ukraine (87,349) and the US (85,745).
Currently, Turkey ranks seventh globally in terms of the number of incoming tourists it has and eighth in terms of tourism revenue it receives. According to figures provided by the Turkish Statistics Institute, Turkey’s tourism revenue exceeded $25 billion in 2010.
via Turkey hosts 14.5% More Tourists in January-May 2011.
A programme called “Muslim for a Month” is inviting non-Muslims to “test drive” the religion, immersing them in Islam without converting them.
