ASTA Announces Expo in Istanbul
JUNE 15, 2009 - Istanbul, which has been chosen as a European Capital of Culture for 2010, also will host next year's American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) International Destination Expo. The four-day conference will put Istanbul on display to this vital group of travel influencers and include a variety of complimentary sightseeing excursions, as well as opportunities for Turkey specialization certifications.
The conference provides a blend of exciting tours to familiarize agents with the country as well as concentrated, destination-specific seminars. The conference will offer an abundance of networking opportunities with local tour operators offering a variety of fascinating itineraries, testament to Turkey's extremely diverse tourism experiences, and laying the groundwork for future partnerships.
The conference includes complimentary half-day Istanbul familiarization excursions, several of which are broken down into themes such as culinary experiences, major faith-based sites and shopping. In addition, pre- and post- tours are available to attending ASTA agents at deep discounts. Trips include:
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A journey back through the ages to see Turkey's vast collection of historic ruins, visiting such ancient sites as Ephesus and Pergamon.
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A "deep dive" into the resort city of Bodrum, already a favorite among Europeans and ready to become the next big American sun and fun destination.
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A trip through time to the "cave region" of Cappadocia, where civilizations have been building cities above ground and on the natural volcanic cliffs for thousands of years.
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Shorter trips to Bursa to visit the Silk Bazaar and to Ankara, Turkey's capital, among others.
For more information or to register for ASTA's 2010 Internation Destination Expo in Istanbul, visit www.asta.org/events. To learn more about the exciting activities in Turkey, call 1-877-FOR-TURKEY or contact the Turkish Culture and Tourist Office in New York at 212-687-2194 and visit their website at www.tourismturkey.org or www.goturkey.com.
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