Interview: Turkish Tourism Director on Simpler Brand Messaging
Skift Take
It's hard to argue that Turkey's rise as global destination is directly tied to its "Home" branding or Instagrammer trips, but these efforts combined with support for the private sector keep Turkey's tourism offering relevant, ready and top of mind for potential visitors around the world.
[gallery ids="152681,152682"]
Istanbul seems to appear towards the top of most aspiring travelers’ bucket lists today.
Drawn by colorful images of architecture, stories of souks, and the possibility of tasting local cuisine, visitors to Turkey have increased significantly in recent years.
An estimated 42 million tourists arrived in Turkey in 2014, contributing up to $36 billion into the economy, according to estimates.
It is difficult, however, to pinpoint exactly what led to Turkey’s, and especially its capital’s, status a trendy international destination. We recently spoke with Irfan Onal, the director at the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, about the organization’s marketing efforts, social media strategy and on-the-ground relationships.
An edited version of our interview can be read below:
Editor’s Note: Skift is publishing a series of interviews with CEOs of destination marketing organizations where we discuss the future of their organizations and
