Ranked as the number 1 city for affordable shopping, Istanbul expects to see a surge in shoppers from around the world, particularly from the Gulf region as Eid Al Adha starts this weekend.

Turkey's  competitive edge in terms of its low production costs has boosted the country’s ability to compete globally in textiles, fashion and home products.

Ranging across casual streetwear, haute couture and bridal wear, Turkish fashion designers are making a mark on the international scene. The uber-popular Turkish drama soap operas, especially during Ramadan, gives these designers a free pass into millions of homes across the entire Middle East.

Turkish designers have taken good advantage of that marketing platform to grow their brand footprint, with clients in the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. With the glitz and glamour that comes with it, Istanbul’s fashion sector brought in $1.2 billion so far in 2017.

To further encourage internal tourism, Turkey's government has announced a 10-day holiday from August 26 to September 5.

Hotel occupancy is projected to reach 80 percent and beyond, which will significantly and positively affect Turkey’s tourism sector.

For visiting tourists, Istanbul’s iconic historic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace are amazing experiences. But the city continues to be loved for its shopping as well.

The myriad of bazaars and markets, where shoppers can haggle for a good deal, mesh beautifully with contemporary malls, such as the recently opened Emaar Square Mall, designed to resemble local architecture. The $2.3 billion mall is projected to welcome 25 million visitors per year.

This Eid will be special in Turkey as Istanbul gets ready to put on a show for shoppers and non-shoppers alike. - TradeArabia News Service