France's Turkish season draws tourists to Turkey

Turkish Season in France is helping to draw more French tourists to Turkey, Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay said yesterday. Stating that the number of French tourists visiting Turkey was up 10 percent year-on-year, Gunay said, "The season is helping Turkey's promotion to the French people." Lamenting that Turkey isn't better known by the French, Gunay stressed the importance of such activities to bridge the gap between the Turkish and French nations. The season includes more than 400 events promoting Turkish culture and boosting its image. An Ottoman caftan show at the Louvre and an exhibit on Istanbul at the Grand Palais set to be inaugurated today by President Abdullah Gul and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy are among the highlights of the season.