The Skal chain changeover ceremony, held in two-year periods, took place at the Goldcity Tourism Complex. Tourism professional Levent Benal handed over the presidency to Mehmet Nedanlı, a member of the Board of Directors of the Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation (ALTAV). The ceremony, hosted by the former president of the Alanya Association of Tourist Operators (ALTİD) and Goldcity General Coordinator Gülçin Güner, was attended by Skal International Vice President Salih Çene, Alanya Mayor Hasan Sipahioğlu, ALTİD President Burhan Sili, Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB) Alanya Regional Executive Board (BYK) President Suat Çavuşoğlu, Alanya District Police Chief Erkan Dur, and tourism professionals.
'MY HEART IS ALWAYS IN ALANYA'
When Skål International Vice President Çene took the podium to propose a toast in honor of Skål (Skål Toast), he said, "Alanya holds a special place for me. My heart is always in Alanya. I feel quite happy when I come together with you all and I have the opportunity to see my old friends."
'SKAL IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD'
In the opening speech of the ceremony, Benal, who provided information about Skål to the guests, stated that Skål is the most widespread and oldest non-governmental organization that strengthens friendship and global tourism relations among world tourism professionals. Noting that Skål is unique in the world in terms of bringing together all sectors within the international travel and tourism industry into its membership, Benal said that members, who are top-level tourism executives, meet on local, national, and international platforms to discuss topics on the tourism agenda, and added, "Skål aims to develop tourism professionalism and provide benefits to its members in this field. It encourages the organization of events such as seminars and conferences held to reinforce international friendship and business connections and to strengthen professionalism in the tourism industry."
'YOUTH MUST BE ACTIVE'
In his podium speech, the new President of Skal Alanya, Nedanlı, stated that they want to make significant contributions to tourism, and in this direction, they expect support from experienced tourism professionals and requested that they provide guidance. Noting that young people should be more active in Skal, Nedanlı expressed that they will work intensively as young tourism professionals.
PLAQUES PRESENTED TO SİPAHİOĞLU AND GÜNER
While Mayor Sipahioğlu was presented with the 'Skal Special Award' for the 'Barrier-Free City Alanya Project' studies, a plaque of appreciation was also presented to the former president of ALTİD, Güner, for his contributions.
ORDU TRADITION AT SKAL
On the other hand, the fact that Skal's president from two terms ago, Burhan Sili, the president from the previous term, Levent Benal, and the new president, Nedanlı, are all from Ordu led to jokes at the ceremony that "people from Ordu have taken over Skal."
ACTIVE IN ALANYA FOR 11 YEARS
International Skål is represented worldwide in 89 countries with 500 clubs and 22,000 members, and operates in 16 regions in Türkiye. The club has been continuing its activities in Alanya for 11 years and, according to recent figures, has 46 members. Skål, which hosts nationally recognized figures concerned with the tourism sector in Alanya, had also hosted an international lacrosse tournament under the sponsorship of Alanya Municipality and ALTİD.