Dozens of travel counsellors turned out in suburban Toronto recently for a full day workshop sponsored by the Toronto-based Turkish Culture and Tourism Office.

The event was also held in Montreal. Featuring close to two dozen suppliers from Turkey (pictured), along with Canadian Turkish Airlines staff, the event coupled informational presentations with the a mini table top trade show.

“We don’t know Canada and Canada doesn’t know Turkey,” said Erdeniz Sen, Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Toronto, of his country’s fledgling efforts to market in Canada and increase visitations to the Mediterranean nation.

Sen noted that Turkey averages about 42 million visitors a year — proof of the great diversity and tourism product it has to offer, from culture to history, adventure and sand, sun and sea.