Indian billionaire gifts Istanbul trip to 3,500 employees

ISTANBUL - Demirören News Agency

File photo: Emre Gencer

An Indian businessman, who was included in Forbes magazine’s list of billionaires, will visit Istanbul with 3,500 employees this month with a budget of more than $10 million.

The “holiday gift” of the billionaire, who asked not to be named, has been organized by Turkey Travel Agencies Union (TURSAB) chair Firuz Bağlıkaya and Travel Shop Turkey chair Murtaza Kalender, as well as officials from Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry.

While most of the employees of the multinational firm will come to Istanbul from India, some 350 executives will be shuttled from 20 countries around the world.

The billionaire’s one-week complimentary holiday will include visits to tourist hotspots, including Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia, as well as private yacht trips on the Bosphorus.

Besides the base budget of $10 million, the billionaire, whose net worth is more than $12 billion, will give away one million U.S. dollars as “pocket money” for his employees to spend during their Istanbul holiday.

More than 10 hotels in Istanbul, including the most expensive 10 hotels, have been closed down by the billionaire for his employees.