Air Transat and GoTürkiye Hosted Familiarization Trip
The travel initiative brought Canadian industry partners to Türkiye to strengthen tourism ties between the nations.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Canada
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Air Transat and GoTürkiye hosted 10 Canadian travel industry partners on a familiarization trip to Türkiye. The group explored iconic landmarks and attended networking events to promote the country as a destination.
Why it matters
The program aimed to strengthen relationships between Canadian and Turkish tourism stakeholders to boost travel demand. This collaboration supports the expansion of direct air links between the two countries.
A total of 10 Canadian travel industry partners participated in the familiarization trip. The itinerary included visits to historical sites in Istanbul such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar.
The players
Air Transat
Air Transat is a major Canadian airline that operates as a subsidiary of Transat A.T. Inc. and specializes in holiday travel.
GoTürkiye
GoTürkiye is the official tourism promotion brand and agency responsible for marketing the country as a travel destination globally.
The details
The trip combined cultural discovery with professional networking, as participants met with local hoteliers and destination management companies. These interactions were designed to showcase Turkish tourism offerings directly to key figures in the Canadian travel sector.
Timeline
December 2025: Non-stop service between Toronto and Istanbul began.
October 2026: New non-stop Montréal-Istanbul route launches.
Travel Outlook
This initiative reflects broader efforts to expand long-haul tourism corridors between North America and Eurasia. By deepening trade relations, the program aligns with industry trends aimed at increasing capacity during shoulder and peak travel seasons.
Travelers should note that direct access to the region is increasing with the planned October 2026 launch of the Montréal-Istanbul route. Monitoring airline schedules now can help in planning future long-haul connections to the destination.
The takeaway
Familiarization trips serve as a critical bridge for travel professionals to understand foreign markets before new flight routes go live. Building these networks is a standard industry practice for ensuring the commercial success of international expansion.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the Canada travel sector.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TravelPress.
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