Turkish Airlines ‘Ramadan in Istanbul’ campaign

Turkish Airlines strengthen GCC visitor traffic with culturally enriching ‘Ramadan in Istanbul’ campaign

Turkish Airlines, as the national carrier of Turkey, is promoting the fascinating traditions and spiritual experience celebrated across the cultural capital of the country throughout the Holy Month of Ramadan with its new ‘Ramadan in Istanbul’ campaign. Paying homage to famed religious sites and traditions from the magical Ottoman era, the campaign is now extremely popular among GCC residents, with the airline recording significant growth in tourist arrivals from the region.

Passenger numbers from the Gulf region were highest from Saudi Arabia during June this year followed by UAE, Kuwait and Qatar. Turkish Airlines is further building on the appeal of Turkey to GCC tourists as a popular year-round destination, which offers a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, with the new campaign. Positioning the country as the must-visit and inspiring destination to visit during the Holy Month, ‘Ramadan in Istanbul’ underlines Turkey’s historic traditions and monuments, complemented with state-of-the-art hospitality provided by the airline and the country.

Ziya Taşkent, Senior Vice President Marketing & Sales of Turkish Airlines said: “Istanbul continues to be one of the most preferred vacation and leisure destinations for residents in the Middle East. The ‘Ramadan in Istanbul’ campaign builds on the popularity and increased visitors witnessed in the Holy Month last year, especially as Turkish Airlines offers attractive fares from across the Middle East region to the capital as part of the annual travel promotion.”

Istanbul, famed for its historic architectural splendour, is home to a rich Ramadan culture tracing back to the Ottoman era through holy scripts, paintings and an inherited tradition celebrated by the Turkish people. While seeped in history, the city also exudes a cosmopolitan vibe with an abundance of shopping opportunities, particularly for Ramadan gifts.

The mosques of Istanbul are celebrated throughout Ramadan, with over 3,000 in the city. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, famed worldwide as the ‘Blue Mosque,’ features greetings for the Holy Month with its minarets being brilliantly illuminated. Other notable masterpieces and places of worship are the Suleymaniye Mosque and Eyüp Sultan Mosque. During the Ottoman period, ‘Tarweeh’ night prayers were performed in the Palace with hymns, this is today upheld in the city’s larger mosques.

Istanbul’s natural splendour can be enjoyed with a sunset Bosphorus cruise, a refreshing end to fasting with vistas of the historical palaces. As fast breaks each day the city becomes alive with culinary delights of Ramadan infusing the streets including ‘Pide’ bread, rosewater, ‘gullac’ pudding, olives and dates, particularly renowned for restoring energy. A culture of charity, the essence of Ramadan, flourishes with an abundance of Iftar dinners reflecting the friendly, hospitable nature of the Turkish people and 24/7 celebration continues up to ‘suhoor’, the last meal before fasting.

Architectural masterpieces featured on any visitor’s list should also include Tokapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, steps away from the Blue Mosque, the latter now a museum and like other historical highlights these are open, with varied hours, throughout Ramadan. The Chamber of the Holy Mantle is highly valued as a place where rare artefacts belonging to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) are on display.

Shopping havens including the Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Market thrive with tourists and residents seeking traditional gifts for families and friends during the Holy Month. Beyond the traditional artefacts, spices, linens and ceramics, GCC tourists relish in the abundance of chic boutiques and high end designer malls across the city. Istanbul is fast becoming a major destination on the fashion circuit boasting retail assets akin to those in Paris and New York, and benefits from being only a short flight away from most cities in the Gulf.

Ziya Taşkent, Senior Vice President Marketing & Sales of Turkish Airlines said: “We are continuing to enhance the passenger satisfaction on Turkish Airlines, highlighted by the numerous awards we have won recently. Organising the ‘Ramadan in Istanbul’ celebrations gives added reasons for the visitors from the Middle East to visit Turkey.”

Turkish Airlines connects passengers to 237 destinations in 103 countries and flies to more destinations in the Middle East from Europe than any other airline.

For further information and to view flight schedules and other details, please visit www.turkishairlines.com