The conference, featuring Istanbul Technical University (İTÜ) Department of Meteorological Engineering Faculty Member and Meteorology and Disaster Management Specialist Prof. Dr. Mikdat Kadıoğlu, Türkiye Hotel Association (TÜROFED) President Osman Ayık, and Alanya Tourist Operators Association (ALTİD) President Burhan Sili as speakers, was attended by Alanya District Governor Mustafa Harputlu, ALKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Pınarbaşı, ALKÜ Secretary General Asst. Prof. Dr. Yavuz Uysal, ALKÜ Faculty of Tourism Dean Prof. Dr. Kemal Kantarcı, ALKÜ Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Bülent Adil Taşbaş, ALTİD and ALTAV (Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation) Board Members, academics, and students.
A FIRST IN ALANYA AGAIN
ALKÜ, which takes a leading role in this field by being the first to initiate the implementation of the decisions from the 3rd Tourism Council held in Ankara between November 1-3, 2017, starting from Alanya, examined the tourism realities of the city where it is located.
Starting the opening speech by expressing his happiness that the ALKÜ Faculty of Tourism is pioneering this subject with a first, the Dean of the ALKÜ Faculty of Tourism Prof. Dr. Kemal Kantarcı said, “Today, we are witnessing a historic meeting in Alanya and at our university. Our Faculty of Tourism is organizing the meeting titled ‘Sustainable Tourism for Development: IT IS TIME!’ in cooperation with ALTİD and TUROFED. So, why Sustainable Tourism and why is it Time? Our distinguished guests will explain the reasons for this very effectively. Just as in the whole world, we have entered a critical turning point in our country as well because sustainable development models cannot be fully implemented. The crises we frequently encounter are serious signals. Sustainable tourism is a sectoral application of sustainable development models. First and foremost, we must transition to sustainability models so that we can also achieve sustainable tourism.”
Stating that the UN World Tourism Organization declared 2017 as the “Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development” for this reason, Kantarcı spoke as follows: “The UN World Tourism Organization has made a call to support this great and vital campaign. Following this, one of the most important decisions taken at the 3rd Tourism Council, which was held on November 1-3, 2017, with the participation of our Honorable President, was determined as ‘Sustainable Tourism and Destination-Oriented Practices.’ With this study, we are fulfilling our responsibility regarding the achievement of global and national goals.”
“AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUSTAINABILITY”
Subsequently, expressing his thoughts regarding the conference he hosted, Rector Pınarbaşı stated, “Sustainability is one of the most discussed topics in the world in recent years, and it is an important subject that holds significance in every field. When we consider it for the country, we can list many of its derivatives, such as sustainable development. If a country grows by five percent one year and one percent the next, this is not a good thing. It is very important for good things to progress with continuous and increasing value. We experienced this situation in our Alanya, which is the darling of tourism. While tourism was going very well until 3-5 years ago, tourism deteriorated over the past two years as a result of an aviation crisis we experienced and the political crises we subsequently had with European countries. This situation shows that we have been unable to ensure sustainability in tourism. At the forefront of the reasons for this is our lack of alternative plans. We must always have B and C plans. If we can do these, we can ensure sustainability,” he said.
INSTILLED ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS ALONG WITH THE TOURISM SECTOR
Following Rector Pınarbaşı, TÜROFED President Osman Ayık delivered his speech, stating that the problems experienced in the last two years are actually significant evidence of how important tourism is for the country's economy. Expressing that sustainability is indispensable for the tourism sector, Ayık said, “We consider 2014 to be the best year we have experienced in terms of the sector.” Touching upon the stages the Turkish tourism sector has undergone since the 1960s in his speech, Ayık spoke, saying, “While a serious preparation phase prevailed in the field of tourism in Türkiye until the 80s, a serious investment period has prevailed after 1980.” Noting that environmental awareness has developed alongside the tourism sector in Türkiye, Ayık said, “For example, before this sector became dominant in our country, we did not know about waste treatment plants. Together with this sector, we have gained environmental sensitivity and awareness.”
“CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT JUST THE PROBLEM OF THE POLAR BEAR”
Subsequently, Meteorology and Disaster Management Expert Prof. Dr. Mikdat Kadıoğlu, who delivered a presentation on “Climate Change and Tourism” to those in the hall, explained in detail the effects of the topics of greenhouse gas emissions, air temperature, precipitation and snow, sea level, extreme weather events, air pollution and ozone, and epidemic diseases on regional tourism.
Emphasizing that the climate change occurring in the world is not just a problem for the bears living at the poles, Kadıoğlu stressed that viewing this problem within such a shallow framework would not yield good results for the future of the world. Stating that climate change is a consequence of the damage mankind has inflicted upon the world, Kadıoğlu addressed the mistakes made by humans and the damage caused to the world with a humorous expression, saying, “Climate change is a product of the damage humans have caused to the world. Just as a human catches a virus, the world has caught a human…”
Evaluating climate change in terms of Alanya's tourism as well, Kadıoğlu said, “For example; unfortunately, there is no air pollution measurement station in Alanya… I believe this is a significant obstacle for health tourism in Alanya. This means that Alanya does not yet know its enemy, as it does not know the amount of ozone in the air and the air pollution.” Drawing attention to the urbanization problem in Alanya, Kadıoğlu stated that urbanization that is not parallel to the coastline would leave the city breathless and that this situation would result in an Alanya deprived of air circulation.
Stating that sea levels will rise, droughts will increase, precipitation will decrease, and the tourism season will shift to the spring and autumn months if environmental disasters and global warming continue in this manner, Kadıoğlu noted that the orientation towards renewable energy sources should continue to increase, and that touristic facilities could attract more environmentally conscious tourists by standing out as green and environmentally sensitive institutions.
WE BRING THE PROBLEMS TO THE AGENDA ON EVERY PLATFORM
Finally taking the floor, ALTİD President and Turkish Hotel Association (TÜROFED) Board Member Burhan Sili stated in his speech: “Primarily together with the Turkish Hotel Association (TÜROFED) and its affiliated associations, we bring the vision regarding Turkish tourism and its solutions to problems to the agenda on every platform. We emphasize how important tourism is for the Turkish economy. We will continue our work as long as we are in office. And you, the new generations, will also continue these efforts for the same purpose.”