Türkiye offers tourists beyond sun, sea, and sand: UK ambassador

Türkiye has everything for international tourists, with its offerings going far beyond sun, sea, and sand, the UK's envoy to Ankara told Anadolu in Antalya, where she wrapped up her weeklong tour of the country’s Aegean and Mediterranean coast.

Ambassador Jill Morris, who took up her new post here in January, said she was struck by the rising numbers of British arrivals to Türkiye.

Over 3.8 million British tourists visited Türkiye last year, making British visitors the third-largest group in Türkiye, following Russians and Germans. A 20 per cent increase was expected this year (2023), bringing the number of British visitors to 4.5 million. According to British tour operators, she said, this would mean a whooping 200 per cent increase in interest from British tourists since 2018.

Morris said she started her tour of the Turkish Riviera – a tradition for British envoys – on the Aegean coast with Izmir, then visited Aydin, Bodrum, Marmaris, Mugla, and Fethiye, and finished in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya in a bid to visit UK consulates and consular staff in the region, which serve a growing number of British expats and tourists each year.

"There is, of course, the sun, sea, and sand tourism that is so much loved, but we also have historical and archaeological sites and varied cultural tourism highlights. There is a really rich, diverse offer, as I have said many times, there is everything here," she said.

The visit was also an opportunity to thank Turkish authorities for their hard work and collaboration to ensure that the millions of British tourists who visit every year have a "very happy and safe holiday" year after year. Morris said her first impression of Turkiye has been of the wonderful Turkish hospitality, diversity, and the many varieties of tourism.

She stressed that the Mugla province itself attracts 46 per cent of British visitors but added that Antalya is becoming increasingly popular and poised to become a top destination soon.

"Already this year, 1.2 million British tourists have come to Antalya. And the work that is being done here, like the airport expansion for example, will make this area an even more attractive tourism destination."

Türkiye is ranked fourth globally among tourism destinations in 2022, according to a report by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), after France, Spain and the US.

'Indispensable partners'

Touching on the ever-deepening bilateral relations between the two countries on all fronts, Morris said they are determined and committed to tap into that enormous potential.

"This for us is a strategic partnership. Türkiye for the United Kingdom is an indispensable partner. We work closely together in all fields, foreign policy, defense, trade, and we work together, not just bilaterally, but also we work together on the international stage," she stressed.

She said as "two, big important members" of NATO, a dimension that really "anchors" the relationship and partnership, Türkiye and the UK cooperate in the G-20, the UN, and many other international organisations.

New free trade pact in the works

Morris highlighted that in July, to "reflect the modernity of our two economies, the modern, dynamic Turkish economy and the modern, dynamic British economy," the UK and Türkiye confirmed an intention to negotiate a new free trade agreement.

"We will be able to modernise the current arrangement that we have, in order to expand into areas like digital and services. This will be a very ambitious, forward-looking agreement, and with the Turkish government, we are hoping to start negotiations on that next year."

“In July, three British ministers visited Türkiye, with programmes that included attendance at the important defence trade fair in Istanbul," she said, referring to the International Defence Industry Fair or IDEF.

She added that "many more high-level visits are planned for the rest of this year and in to 2024."

The intention to update the existing trade agreement to a 21st century deal would enhance an already thriving trading relationship, which reached around £23.5 billion ($30 billion) in 2022, up more than 30 percent from the previous year. The new deal is expected to cover key areas of the UK economy like services, digital, and data.

Türkiye is a major supplier of goods such as vehicles, clothing, and electrical machinery and goods to the UK, which is its fourth-largest goods export market, in return for over £6.41 billion ($8 billion) of UK goods exports, including power generators and metals.

"The numbers have been growing and growing, and last year we reached the highest level in our bilateral trade. What this new trade agreement will do is allow Turkish businesses and British businesses from a wider range of sectors to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in our joint markets," she said.

"Certainly, we share a high level of ambition."

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will arrive in Türkiye on Wednesday for a two-day visit.

"Bilateral relations, current regional and international issues will be discussed at the meetings," it said in a statement.

First lady's Zero Waste Project

Expressing her pride at being Britain’s first female ambassador on the 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic, Morris said they "pay tribute to the work of" first lady Emine Erdogan and her Zero Waste Project.

"It sets an example not only for Türkiye and Europe but for the world, the first lady’s leadership on that issue. I'm looking forward to learning more over the coming years," she said.

Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last year signed a declaration of goodwill for global promotion of the Zero Waste Project.

Inspired by her efforts, the UN in late 2022 formally recognised the importance of zero waste initiatives and proclaimed March 30 the International Day of Zero Waste, to be observed annually starting this year.