The “Turkey Health Tourism Associations Federationization Workshop,” held under the leadership of the Alanya Health Tourism Association (ALSTUD) with the contributions of the Alanya Tourist Operators Association (ALTİD), took place at the Alanya Titan Select Hotel. Representatives from the Alanya Health Tourism Association, the Turkey Health Tourism Association, and the health tourism associations of Bolu, Adana, Erzurum, Trabzon, Bursa, and İzmir participated in the workshop. Delivering the opening speech of the workshop, the Chief Physician of Alanya State Hospital and President of the Alanya Health Tourism Association Tevfik Yazan stated, “As ALSTUD, we have not yet completed our first year, but we are developing rapidly. There are approximately 700 registered hotels in Alanya that can host health tourism. Our work continues at full speed in Alanya, which has become a brand in the field of tourism with its 40 years of tourism experience, two universities, three private hospitals, numerous clinics, and a population density that reaches 300 thousand in summer and exceeds one million in winter. We have conducted visits across the country, and in light of these visits, we have taken steps toward federationization. We will bring all associations together under one roof.”
“ALANYA HAS SERIOUS POTENTIAL”
ALTİD President Burhan Sili stated, “As ALTİD, we are providing the necessary support to health tourism activities. We must act together in our region and our country from today forward by utilizing the potential we have at hand. We must spread tourism across 12 months by organizing and integrating it in every field. Alanya has serious potential in every subject. We must move beyond the sea, sand, and sun trilogy. At this point, health tourism should also come into play.”
“LIVING STANDARDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES ARE HIGH IN ALANYA”
Alanya Deputy Mayor Ali Yenialp stated, “Traveling from one country to another for the purpose of treatment is called ‘Health Tourism.’ It is important not only for the patients but also for the comfort of their relatives. We are working to make Alanya a barrier-free city. At the point we have reached on this matter, the mobility and standard of living for disabled individuals living in Alanya or coming here on vacation are quite high. Our municipality's work in this regard is gaining appreciation throughout the country and the world.”
“38 THOUSAND FOREIGNERS OWN PROPERTY”
Alanya District Governor Dr. Hasan Tanrıseven stated the following: “Our Alanya is a place that hosts approximately 4 million tourists a year, where foreigners from 79 different nations live, and where 38 thousand foreigners have acquired real estate. In terms of foreign potential, it is the second most populated settlement with foreigners in Turkey after Istanbul. In Alanya, there is not only sea, sand, and sun tourism; there is also history and culture tourism. We are conducting various studies to diversify tourism. Within this framework, the Alanya Health Tourism Association is making efforts to promote Alanya in health tourism as well. A summit with wide participation was held previously, and today, federationization studies will be carried out.”
At the end of the workshop that lasted all day, a decision was made to form a federation that will encompass health tourism associations, and plaques were presented to the protocol members.