Istanbul and its first shopping festival: From March 18 to April 26, 2011
Istanbul is preparing for the first shopping festival in the country, scheduled to begin in March.
The festival, lasting 40 days, must make the ancient city of Istanbul a popular destination for tourists and shopaholics. It begins March 18 and will offer promotional items, events held throughout the city, and shops opening hours will be extended.
Concerts, street festivals, exhibitions and parades will be organized in traditional tourist sites like the great Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Market (or Spice Market).
Some shopping centers in town are open 24 hours on 24, which will allow revelers to shop at any hour. The shops offer all kinds of products, such as Turkish clothing brands, spices, and antiques, and gifts will be offered daily to the lucky visitors.
Organizers hope the festival will grow over time. They expect more than 1.5 million tourists each year over the next four years to help the government, which aims to reach 10 million tourists a year by 2015.
The Dubai shopping festival, which is organized every start since 1996, attracts about 3 million visitors annually, and have attracted about 40 million visitors since its debut, according to estimates.
The main Turkish Airlines have announced specials for people who wish to attend the festival shopping in Istanbul, which lasts until April 26.
Turkish Airlines is a major sponsor of the festival and will offer promotional fares from several airports in different countries, and has even planned to revise upward the amount of baggage allowed for passengers.
