Istanbul Shopping Festival 2012 Istanbul - Arabstoday Istanbul has set out to become a must-visit shopping destination with the second annual Shopping Festival - one of the largest and most exciting shopping events in the world. The city is already one of the top city break destinations in Europe, boasting a spectacular 47 per cent foreign increase in foreign visitors in the first quarter of 2012 when compared to 2011. Until June 29th this year guests are invited to enjoy limitless shopping, culture and entertainment across the city and take advantage of 50 per cent discount offered on an assortment of products ranging from the latest fashions to top technology. More than 90 participating shopping locations ranging from the historic and iconic Grand Bazaar to the sophisticated shopping malls and chic shopping will be hosting round-the-clock shopping, as well as street festivals, live concerts and performances, parties, surprise text message competitions and, of course, fashion shows. Across the City Under the auspices of the ministry of culture and tourism and the governor of Istanbul, the Shopping Festival will showcase many upcoming Turkish brands available in such shopping hubs. These include Taksim, Nisantasi, Sisli, Bakirkoy, Fatih, Bahariye and Bagdat Avenue in a city which has more than 100 state-of-the-art shopping centres. By Numbers Istanbul’s first shopping festival was launched in 2011 with an investment of 50 million Turkish Liras and five million visitors, resulting in a 41 per cent increase in the retail trade volume for that period. The aim this year is for an increase of 50 per cent in the retail trade volume and millions of interested visitors again.