ALTİD Activity Report

ALTİD BOARD OF DIRECTORS ACTIVITY REPORT

12.11.2013-04.11.2016 Term of Office

The Alanya Tourist Operators Association (ALTİD) is a professional organization established in 1985, which obtained the status of an association working for the public interest by a Council of Ministers decision in 2002, and has a capacity of 84,000 beds across its 254 member facilities. It is a member of the West Mediterranean Development Board and a founding member of TÜROFED.

ALTİD’S VISION

Among our most important objectives regarding Alanya tourism are the diversification of tourism, alternative tourism activities, and especially removing seasonality from tourism in our region. Taking into account the new tourism trends developing in the world, ALTİD—which aims to carry out studies and organizations primarily to increase the competitiveness of the accommodation sector and to better promote Alanya—has adopted the mission of increasing the quality of tourism and the workforce employed in the sector, spreading seasonality across the year by utilizing sports tourism, health tourism, spa and wellness, senior tourism, disability tourism, youth tourism-outdoor sports, cultural tourism, and congress tourism alongside resort tourism, directing consumer demand, and thereby contributing to employment and the economy. In addition to these, it has also taken it as a duty to strengthen the regional tourism and economy by ensuring solidarity and cooperation among its members and by strengthening cooperation between regional tourism, public institutions, chambers, associations, and other institutions/organizations in the region.

The main headings regarding our activities, which we continue with the goals of raising the quality standards of Alanya tourism, are as follows:

1. Activities Directed Towards Members
2. Promotion Activities a) Fairs b) Sports Organizations c) Social/Cultural Events d) Hosting of journalist, TV, and artist guest delegations e) Domestic market studies
3. Our Support Activities Directed Towards Social/Sectoral Development
4. Sectoral and Other Meetings Attended
5. Projects (Executed/Supported and Developed)
6. Our Training Activities
7. TÜROFED Representation …………………………………………………………………………………

1. ACTIVITIES DIRECTED TOWARDS OUR MEMBERS

1. Solidarity Organizations and Meetings with Members. (Continuous information flow is provided to our members via email, and solidarity meetings and cocktail activities are organized to foster cohesion among hoteliers, tour operators, travel agents, and the public, private, and tourism sectors)
2. Consultation meetings with members in the regions aimed at increasing the recognition of our Alanya and developing image studies. (The necessity of providing contribution and participation for effective promotion to be used in festivals, sports organizations, etc., carried out by Alanya Municipality and ALTAV, as well as in domestic and international fairs and similar organizations, was addressed, and an effort was made to reach a consensus on this matter)
3. Our Season Evaluation Meetings: (A 2015 season evaluation and mutual exchange of information regarding the current situation were conducted; in the evaluation meeting for the 2016 season, the topics discussed in sector meetings held with the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the period, as well as meetings held with tour operators and travel agencies, were conveyed. Issues such as what can be turned into opportunities at the current stage of our tourism, what duties fall upon us, information regarding pre-bookings in the Russian and European markets, and the determination of strategies for advertising and image studies in Europe, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and the Russian market were shared.)
4. In the meetings held with our members, the following topics were emphasized: the immediate implementation of SCT-VAT-SGK support, ensuring that sector-specific loans are not recalled within 5 years and providing guarantees, the completion of infrastructure (road, electricity, fiber, waste, etc.) investments by 2017, holding urgent meetings and providing support to Turkish-origin tour operators in Russia, and support for the European market. Emphasis was also placed on turning toward different/alternative markets with tour operators, increasing perception and image promotion studies, targeting occupancy rates for 2016, personnel policy, targeting different markets, and campaign, package, and organization planning to develop domestic tourism.
5. Meetings were held with hotel and agency members, and discussions were conducted with TÜRSAB and SKAL Alanya Klubü for the purpose of evaluating and developing our region's tourism.
6. In the meeting organized for tourism professionals in cooperation with ALTİD and SKAL, graced by the presence of our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mevlüt ÇAVUŞOĞLU, a report titled "very urgent problems that must be solved in the short and medium term and demands requested to be fulfilled in the long term" regarding tourism was submitted to the Minister and during meetings with Antalya Members of Parliament. (This report includes the following headings: SGK and energy supports, illegal electricity share, low-interest loan support package supported by the Credit Guarantee Fund, the scope of support for tour operators, allowing Russian tourists to enter with ID cards, the introduction of an exemption from entertainment tax, Special Consumption Tax (SCT) refunds, including the accommodation sector within the scope of exporters, Value Added Tax (VAT) application, the extension of allocation periods, the Ministry of Economy imposing restrictions on tourism investment incentive certificates, Turkish Airlines (THY) providing support for direct regional flights, the reorganization of school holidays, university exams, and the TEOG and LYS exam calendars, the updating of the Tourism Incentive Law No. 2634, the establishment of a professional umbrella organization, the issues of residences, hostels, and second homes, work permits for foreign workers, the coastal law, the establishment of tourism promotion agencies, the creation of new markets, and the urgent intensification of studies in all markets for 2016)
7. Facility classification audit programs were carried out together with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Investment and Enterprises and the Presidency of the Board of Controllers. Additionally, information received from public and private institutions was announced via email.

1. PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES

1. Exhibitions

1. Participation and representation in national and international tourism fairs under the umbrella of the Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation (ALTAV). During the 2013-2014, 2014-2015, and 2015-2016 promotion periods, contributions were provided for 77 tourism fairs attended as Alanya under the umbrella of ALTAV and for promotional materials, and representation duties were also carried out at most of these fairs. Participation was carried out with specially prepared stands at the EMITT Istanbul Holiday and Tourism Fair, ITB Berlin with 51 m2, Netherlands/Utrecht with 40 m2, and Finland/Helsinki with 20 m2 tourism fairs. We participate in Istanbul/EMİTT every year with a specially prepared stand. In 2014, the "Longest-Running Participant Stand" award was presented to Alanya at Emitt. Tourism department students from Alanya Girls' Vocational and Technical High School and Ümit Altay Hotel Management School were provided with fair experience by participating as stand staff at the Emitt fair, and a day trip to the fair was organized for 40 students.

For the first time this year, the IRAN tourism fair was also attended. Additionally, an Alanya promotion stand was opened during the Antalya-Iran Tourism Summit program, which was organized by ALTAV together with BAKA to revitalize the Iranian market and included the participation of Iranian travel agencies, journalists, and local hotel businesses.

The "Best Holiday City, Alanya" award, received from the Netherlands' most popular holiday site Reisgraag at the '50+ Jaarbeurs Tourism Fair' organized for the 3rd age potential under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, where ALTAV is located, was displayed throughout the fair and has made a great contribution to our work in terms of image.

FESTİ RAMAZAN 2016 (The participation of ALTAV in the Culture and Ramadan Fair, which is traditionally organized every year during the month of Ramadan in the city of Dortmund, Germany, was organized and supported in a 16 m2 area.)

In the fairs we attended (in 2016); during our meetings with tour operators and travel agency officials; it was emphasized that "the perception of terrorism is changing, and there is a necessity to convey that we are a safe holiday country," while evaluating developments occurring in many cities of the world and especially Europe, as well as the incidents experienced in our country and in source markets. It was stated that Alanya-Gazipaşa Airport holds significant potential that provides great convenience, and discussions were held regarding its inclusion in flight planning.

1. Promotional materials: The Alanya promotional film has been reproduced for fairs, the Alanya City Plan has been redrafted, and a hiking trail map-booklet has been printed within the scope of the Alanya Destination Hotel Guide and the Alanya Nature Sports Project, which have been used for promotional purposes at fairs and visits. Contributions have been provided to ALTAV in the studies for Alanya's new promotional film. The TSS Workshop was attended, and the promotional materials and posters related to the Consumer Magazine, in which we placed regional advertisements and which was distributed to travel agencies, were used.
2. Support is being provided by participating in a project organized by the Alanya Health Tourism Association aimed at developing health tourism, which includes seminars on the current level of health tourism in the world and in Turkey, its processes, and its status on a national scale. A series of meeting organizations has been carried out to evaluate and develop health tourism for our region. A preliminary evaluation meeting was held by conveying our views and suggestions on health tourism to the Alanya Health Tourism Association, and discussions were held regarding the planning of a health tourism congress on a national scale, the incentives to be provided for health tourism, how these incentives will be utilized, conducting awareness studies, and promotion at fairs.

1. Sports Organizations Presidential Cycling Tour organization.

The preparations in Alanya for the 50th Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey (2014) and the 51st Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey (2015)—which are important competitions for the promotion of Turkey and Alanya, broadcast live by EUROSPORT starting with the Alanya-Alanya stage and aired again throughout the year—were carried out locally with the contribution and cooperation coordination of the Alanya District Governorate, Alanya Municipality, ALTSO, ALTİD, and regional tourism associations. (The race, which is closely followed by the Turkish and world press and broadcast in 190 countries by global-scale TV channels, primarily Eurosport, holds great importance for the promotion of Alanya and the country.)

Triathlon World Cup organization, International Open Water Handball, Beach

Handball tournaments.

Alanya Sailing Club athletes' participation in the 18th New Year's Cup sailing regatta held in Greece, the sailing races held in Adana, and the 2nd International Alanya Lacrosse Tournament.

Under-12 Boys European Tennis Championships. (Included in the 2014-2015 activity program of the International Tennis Federation and the Turkish Tennis Federation.)

The 5th national off-road race, held in Alanya, organized by ANDOFF and Alanya Offroad Club.

Hotel organization for the Türkiye Oryantiring Federasyonu Antalya Orienteering Days and 3rd Level Mustafa Karataş Orienteering competitions.

ADD Alanya Branch’s Atatürk Half Marathon and Alanya Public Run.

1. Our Social and Cultural Activities

1. Alanya Tourism and Art Festival (The accommodations of the artists, the Alanya sister city delegation, and participants from other cities attending the festival were organized, and the artists' service fees were covered.)
2. The Miss Finland / Finnish beauties pageant organization (for 3 years), which has been observed to have a very positive impact with the cooperation of ALTAV and Detur, and the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, ALTİD, and ALTUYAB, was held (“Miss Finland Pre-Final Camp” and the Miss Finland competition were conducted. (The 10 finalists who participated in shoots at Alanya’s historical and natural sites also took part in catalog and video shoots at Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport; 10 Finnish beauties were followed by press members from LIV Channel, Iltasanomat, Iltalehti Seiska, Nelonen-Media, and Fox TV throughout the Alanya camp, resulting in a significant promotional effort.)
3. The 1st Alanya International Crystal Castle Film Forum and Festival was organized. With the cooperation and support of our Association, Alanya Municipality, ALTAV, and ALTSO, the support of the General Directorate of Cinema of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the contributions of the Istanbul Cinema Development and Promotion Association and Onur Air, the 1st Alanya International Crystal Castle Film Festival will be held for the first time in Alanya between June 24-30, 2016. At the 1st Alanya Crystal Castle International Film Festival, which has the slogan “Let friendship win,” films focusing on the feelings of friendship and solidarity from Germany, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Denmark, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey were screened, and esteemed names of cinema, press members, and sponsors from Turkey, Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine were hosted within the framework of the festival. The forum was held one year prior to the Film Festival, providing pre-organization regarding what the sectoral gains of such an undertaking would be.Prior to the “1st Crystal Castle International Alanya Film Festival” activities, which the Turkish Cinema Foundation prepared to organize in Alanya for the first time in 2016, a forum organization of a preparatory and planning nature was held in Alanya with the cooperation of the Alanya District Governorate, Alanya Municipality, ALTİD, ALTAV, and ALTSO. Meetings and free film screenings were held during the forum. The 1st Crystal Castle International Alanya Film Festival is seen as different and beneficial in terms of promoting Alanya not only through the trilogy of sea, sand, and sun, but also through its cultural and artistic fabric.

1. Our hosting of journalists, TV, artists, and delegation visits

Support has been provided by ALTAV to Alanya's promotion efforts in the form of accommodation, representation, programming, and announcements to our members and the public. Within this scope, in cooperation with the attachés, invited foreign press members, as well as representatives of domestic and foreign agencies, tour operators, and airlines were hosted in Alanya, with a particular emphasis also placed on the promotion of Gazipaşa Airport.

1. The filming of a Bulgarian pop artist's music video in Alanya (The latest music video work of Bulgaria's famous pop artists Anelia Georgieva and Daniel Rusev was ensured to be produced in Alanya. The artists expressed that they had an enjoyable time, that they liked Alanya, which they were visiting for the first time, very much, and that they received very positive reactions; interviews conducted in Bulgarian and English were also sent to the Bulgarian media)
2. Filming activities conducted by the Polish media in Alanya (A 4-person press delegation from Tip Media, which covers 150 cities in Poland, was invited to conduct Alanya promotional filming studies targeting the Polish market, a special news report was prepared, and it was ensured that this program would be broadcast in the months of May, June, and July, which is the period when sales rise in Poland. At the same time, it was ensured that Alanya promotional content would be featured throughout the month of April on the “Leisure and Health TV” channel of the Tip Media group, which is Poland's second-largest cable network operator and has a readership of over 2 million across print and internet publications, and on the wypoczynekizdrowie.pl website.)
3. The inclusion of Alanya in the Kuwait Fam Trip Program, which was carried out with the support of BAKA and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Within the scope of this program, a delegation consisting of 15 important travel agency and tour operator officials from Kuwait, as well as Air Arabia officials who will operate direct flights from Sharjah to Antalya, was hosted in Alanya.)
4. Hosting organization for a guest press delegation from Kazakhstan,
5. The inclusion of Alanya in a press member visit program from Spain and its hosting.
6. The hosting of 2 journalists from rantapallo.fi, one of Finland's largest travel websites, in cooperation with the Helsinki Culture and Promotion Attaché (Within the scope of the promotional studies conducted in Finland by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Helsinki Culture and Promotion Attaché, Alanya was highlighted as the most important holiday destination in Turkey for Finns. Visuals of Alanya, where 55 percent of Finnish tourists coming to Turkey visit, were applied to two facades of a building on Aleksanterinkatu, one of Helsinki's busiest streets.)
7. In cooperation with the London Promotion Counselor; the hosting of 4 journalists (“Travel & Health Insurance Journal” sectoral magazine, writer Robin Gauldie from “The Scotsman” newspaper and “The Scots Magazine”, Gunning Chloe, who prepares travel content for the Huffington Post, A Luxury Travel Blog, and GapYear.com websites, travel influencer Stefania Crivellaro (@steffi_daydreamer, 63,000 followers), and Cameron Wheels from the Instagram account Howl London (@Howllondon, 129,000 followers) which provides destination recommendations for travelers and explorers, were hosted.)
8. The hosting of Lithuanian researcher-writer Ausrine Semiene and Tomasz Rosset, the owner of Aktero, one of the Polish Ministry of Tourism's consultancy companies, in Alanya (Rosset stated that he would present the information and documents he collected about Alanya to Ministry officials in a file, and that he would explain in detail to the officials in which areas the tourism ties between the two countries should be strengthened in the coming years.)
9. The visit of Norwegian journalist Anita Ommestad Krok to our association (During the visit, information was conveyed regarding Alanya's facility and bed capacities, the regional tourism economy, seasonal expectations, the purchasing power of Russians along with the economic crisis experienced in Russia, the measures taken by hoteliers, and the strategic importance of the Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport for the Norwegian and global markets)
10. The hosting of Svante Strömberg from Scandinavian Travel Radio, who was invited and hosted twice in the years 2015 and 2016 (Strömberg, a radio disc jockey who prepares holiday programs followed with interest in Scandinavian countries, also conducted home interviews with expatriates living in Alanya, and conveyed to his listeners the changes in Alanya, the developments in tourism, and how transportation to our region has been facilitated via Gazipaşa Airport.)
11. The hosting of the İz TV Alanya Film project İz TV team, TRT, and Russian TV teams within the scope of the Alanya Municipality,
12. The hosting of the production team of the Go Utazas travel magazine, which has a circulation of 25,000 and is published throughout Hungary, in Alanya for news and photography studies in the years 2015 and 2016,
13. The hosting of the VÖ Travel expediente group,
14. The broadcasting of Alanya in the Beyaz TV Gezelim Görelim program,
15. The continuation of the Alanya Municipality, Avrupa Hürriyet Gazetesi Family Holiday Campaign was ensured for promotional purposes.

1. Domestic Market studies a) A talk on the domestic market and sports tourism was held with the participation of Jolly Tours Honorary President Mr. Sinan Vardar and Mr. Giray Bulak. b) Promotional Studies Aimed at the Development of the Domestic Market

1. Due to the decline experienced in 2016 reservations along with ALTAV, greater emphasis was placed on domestic market promotions, and support was provided for studies in pilot provinces.
2. An initiative for ANADOLU JET Erzurum/Alanya promotional activities was undertaken. (ALTİD, as ALTAV, in cooperation with Anadolu Jet, organized a preliminary meeting by inviting domestic market agency officials for the purpose of flight organization-agency-hotel accommodation package tour programs from Erzurum to Alanya Gazipaşa Airport to develop winter tourism.)
3. A Winter Operation Campaign was organized in cooperation with ANADOLU JET. (In order to revitalize winter tourism and stimulate domestic tourism so that more tourist facilities in Alanya could remain open during the winter season and tradesmen could benefit from arriving tourists, ALTİD, Anadolu Jet, and Alanya Municipality, in cooperation, included "Advantageous Route Alanya" and "Winter Holiday Package" studies in the program for the 2016 winter period during the December 2015 period. Within the scope of the Advantageous Route Alanya project, Alanya was promoted with articles and visuals in the company magazine placed in the seat pockets of Anadolu Jet aircraft.)

1. OUR SUPPORT ACTIVITIES AIMED AT SOCIAL/SECTORAL DEVELOPMENT

Conducting seminars, agency, and meeting activities for congress tourism,

Alanya promotion in the Antalya Governorship Culture and Tourism Magazine,

The filming of the movie Kafes in Alanya,

Promotion of Alanya in Thomas Cook Öger Special Catalog,

YÖREX 2015 and 2016 Fair,

Stone and Wood Sculpture Symposium, Hospitality Support for the Jazz Festival, Youth Congress

Support for the procurement of vehicles to be used in airport security services at Gazipaşa Airport,

The organization for the first aircraft landing at Gazipaşa Airport by AnadoluJet,

Gazipaşa Airport Alanya–Gazipaşa passenger transfer for one month,

Hotel planning for participation in the Fethiye 3rd National Chef Mavi Professional Cooking Competition and for internships for the Alanya Ümit Altay Anatolian Hotel Management and Tourism Vocational High School Directorate,

Participation support for the Anfaş fair with silk woven products from the Antalya Governorship Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism,

Alanya Municipality Barrier-Free Reflections, World Disability Day exhibition event, Alanya Municipality barrier-free park and Life Center's set sail project ceremony,

Alanya Faculty of Business Spring Festival,

A 3-month chef exchange program with the Fushun Tourism Bureau of Alanya's sister city, Fushun, China,

Alanya District Directorate of Health Traditional Inter-Institutional Medicine Day 2nd Astroturf Football Tournament,

Accommodation sponsorship to support the Alanya Traditional Gökbel Wrestling Festival, financial contribution to Alanyaspor,

Alanya State Hospital and our association, the ‘Give a book too’ campaign to contribute to the library of the Türkler Community Mental Health Center, where psychiatric patients receive treatment,

The announcement of the survey research themed “Hotel reservation and review platforms regarding customer evaluations” by the students of the Tourism and Travel Management department of Fachhochschule Worms University,

The booklet, which was printed and distributed to students in schools as part of the visibility studies accompanying the panel on the subject of “Violence Against Women and Within the Family in Society,” held in cooperation with the Alanya District Governorate Project Coordination Unit and the Alanya Association for Educational and Psychological Services,

The theater play titled “Gençlik Çıkmazı” (Youth Dilemma), which will be performed free of charge for high school students by the Alanya District Governorate, concerning drug addiction,

The World Mothers Friendship Night event for the benefit of the Nursing Home, within the scope of the activities of the Alanya District Governorate’s Whose Hand is on Top Platform,

Contribution and jury membership participation in the International Young Adults Platinum Hair Beauty Pageant,

Educational activities of the District Directorate of Family (such as semester break gifts for children staying in children's homes affiliated with the District Directorate of the Ministry of Family and Social Services under the District Governorate)

The Kite Festival of the ÇYDD Alanya Branch, the 25th Anniversary Ball of the Alanya Women's Solidarity Association, the 26th Anniversary of the founding of the ADD Alanya branch,

The Community Supported Police Bureau Office's poster project for awareness purposes,

The accommodation of theater and fashion artists requested during the studies requested with the representative support of the Plato Art School,

Representative opening of the Hotel Housekeeping Training and Decoration Association (HOTED).

The Sibel Can concert held to support the Police Department, the level of support for the concert, and the efforts carried out by the Police regarding tourist safety,

Neither the Engelsiz Yaşam Evi Derneği nor the Norveç Empo TV team,

Within the framework of the Alanya District Governorate’s "Whose Hand is Above the Hand" Project, the World Mothers Friendship Night, in meeting the needs of the Nursing Home,

The Turkish Sailing Federation Regional Cup races, held in Alanya between April 8-12, 2015, at the Alanya Sailing Club,

The teams that participated in the inter-high school music competition held in İstanbul and the folklore competition held in Antalya, in the District Directorate of National Education,

ASAT’s information seminar, the Alanya Museum Directorate's Museums Day celebration program, and the works of the Syedra Ancient City Archaeological Survey team,

Alanya Municipality, an educational set for primary school students from the District Directorate of National Education,

Within the scope of the “A Holiday Will Do Good for Successful Students” project, organized in cooperation with the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, the Antalya Provincial Directorate of National Education, AKTOB, and our association, a weekend holiday opportunity in 5-star hotels will be provided to the families of school valedictorians studying at the final grade level in middle schools and high schools,

The 1st International Mediterranean Studies Colloquium of Alanya Hamdullah Emin Paşa (HEP) University, held at the Alanya Cultural Center,

The Rainbow Barrier-Free Public Beach platform located at Cleopatra Beach, to the Kite Festival organized by the Alanya Social Services Center to create awareness on account of November 20 World Children's Rights Day,

The organization of the 4th and 5th Alanya International Golden Ladle Cooking Competition, held in cooperation with the Alanya Golden Ladle Chefs Association, AKTAD, and Alanya Municipality,

Alanya promotion in the Türkiye Gazeteciler Federasyonu holiday newspaper and the sectoral resort magazine,

an environmental sensitivity book for primary school students, aimed at creating awareness and sensitivity regarding tourism and the environment for sustainable tourism,

The training program of the Alanya District Governorate Social Services Center Directorate,

ALKÜ 2016-2017 academic year,

The meeting of the Türkiye City Councils Platform in Alanya, the Alanya City Council's commemoration program for the ATATÜRK and Çatalca Martyrs,

The Undiscovered Lithuania photography exhibition of the Embassy of Lithuania, Alanya Municipality, Alanya District Governorate, ALTSO, ALTİD, and Alanya Plato Vocational School (the Btec-Edexcel International 2-year higher education diploma program planned under the umbrella of the continuing education center with the Fashion Design and Theater main art departments in the 2014-2015 academic year),

A panel on the development of air transport in the Antalya region, held on the occasion of AHEP World Civil Aviation Day,

The forum organized by KENTFOR under the theme of “Sustainable Urban and Environmental Management,” hosted by Alanya Hamdullah Emin Paşa University with the contributions of Hacettepe University,

Communicating our announcements and views to academic studies from within and outside of Alanya,

Representation and hospitality activities within the scope of the visit of Öger Tours’ top 120 agencies to Alanya,

AHEP University, professional and educational purpose meetings with Akdeniz University Alanya Faculty of Business, and planning meetings on cooperation studies,

In Gazipaşa, where new investments are being made in the field of tourism, Gazipaşa Municipality's visit to Av. Kemal Akça Anatolian Hotel Management and Tourism Vocational High School,

Our contacts with the Akdeniz Elektrik Dağıtım A.Ş. Alanya Regional Directorate. (By discussing energy problems and investments experienced in the region, the process regarding energy problems and difficulties related to privatization, especially in the western region, has been closely monitored on behalf of the sector.)

Police Department establishment activities, schools' activity invitation programs

Meeting with the Alanya Mufti's Office, foreign nationals living in Alanya, and clergy,

April 15 Tourism Week celebrations,

These are the organizations and studies that we support.

Additionally, interviews have been given to various newspapers, magazines, and tourism internet news sites.

1. SECTORAL AND OTHER MEETINGS ATTENDED

Sector evaluation meetings, organized with the participation of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, (urgent sectoral issues such as social security institution, wage support, Turkish aircrafts being able to obtain routes, and resolving the issue by determining capacity in aircraft fuel support were conveyed),

Promotion Strategy Development Meetings, Sectoral Think-Tank panels,

Meetings with the representatives of the Alanya Polish Culture and Friendship Association during the visit of Poland's Ambassador to Ankara Mieczyslaw Cieniuch to Alanya,

Ministry Tourist Security sub-working group meeting,

Resort Tourism congress,

TUİ Russia & CIS dynamic new structure launch,

Meeting on BAKA Antalya promotion strategies (the necessity of changing the perception towards our country, intensifying advertising efforts in new market countries such as Iran and India),

The promotional meeting with RTK Travel Agency chain president Thomas Bosl, Schmetterling travel agency chain president Anja Muller, and RTK Turkey representative Hüseyin Baraner; the “tourism development” meeting with the GPTA (German Premium Travel Agencies) union, which consists of German travel agencies that have been operating in Germany for a long time and are owned by Turks; and the Thomas Cook “Get Together Event” activities,

The season consultation meeting held in Antalya, with the participation of Thomas Cook Executive Mr. Frankhauser,

BAKA Development Board membership and working groups meetings,

TOBB Turkey Tourism Assembly membership and tourism assembly meetings,

HOTED’s International Housekeeping Olympics,

Nordic consulate seminar,

TYD evaluation meetings,

It is one of our representation activities.

Works directed towards Gazipaşa Airport. (Meetings with Borajet sales officials, representative support for Onur Air flight organization, other agencies/tour operators/airlines provided with the latest status information regarding Gazipaşa Airport at fairs; Kontiki, Big Blue, Filip Travel-Odeon Travel, Euro Jet, 1A Travel. Representation on the Pegasus Airlines Istanbul-Alanya Gazipaşa Airport flight, meeting with Azerbaijan Airlines at the Baku Tourism Fair)

Participation and attendance in meetings and activities are maintained within the Alanya Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Protection Board, Alanya City Council, Alanya District Underwater and Surface Sport Tourism Board, paragliding, coastline and shoreline, Alanya District Governor's Office Hotel Security Audit Commission, ALTAV institutions, and the Alanya Student-Friendly Facility commission and the District Directorate of National Education (schools shall be life project committee) committees.

Our views regarding the field of education have been submitted to ALEMDER, Eczacı Güzin Velittin Bekrioğlu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, and Ümit Altay Hotel Management School for academic theses and research, and to the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality for Alanya master development plan studies; furthermore, a briefing regarding the tourism sector and hotel operations has been provided to the Industrial Engineering students of the Alanya Faculty of Engineering for their “Production Methods” course assignment topics.

Visits from the Alanya/Antalya representatives of banks were accepted, information regarding the tourism sector was provided, and views were conveyed regarding support for sectoral credit, investment, and renovation works. (Ziraat Bankası, Halk Bankası, Şeker Bank, İşbankası etc.)

Our Other Meeting and Representation Activities;

A series of coordination meetings and studies have been carried out with associations/unions and chambers related to Alanya Tourism regarding Alanya's image and issues of inter-institutional cooperation. (In the meetings held to identify and resolve problems directly affecting tourism in Alanya, with the participation of tourism dynamics, aimed at creating awareness, developing awareness-raising methods, and generating solution proposals, it was ensured that the existing knowledge and experience in the tourism city of Alanya were examined, along with the fact that competition with other tourism regions can be maintained as long as there is continued cooperation, personnel training, environment and sea, touting, street hawking, guest satisfaction and expectations, the development process and aftermath of the Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport, Alanya's image, and the effectiveness of civil society organizations structured in Alanya)

The associations information meeting organized by the Provincial Directorate of Associations in Alanya, the groundbreaking ceremony of the Alanya SGK service building, the opening reception of the Honorary Consulate of Latvia in Alanya, the ALÇED environmental festival, and the Alanya Journalists Association award ceremony were attended.

A presentation on Alanya tourism was delivered by participating in a European Union grant project conference program regarding the strategic planning of South East European Regional Municipalities. (The conference, attended by municipal, chamber, and association executives from both countries, is a continuation of the meetings held in Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria, and aims to increase the capacity development of municipalities, determine common roadmaps on strategic planning, joint project production, and management issues, and prepare reform processes).

Participation was provided in the workshop themed “Industry-University Cooperation for the Tourism of the Future,” organized by the Alanya District Governorate and Alanya Faculty of Business Administration in cooperation with ALTİD and ALTSO. (Within the scope of a seminar course by Alanya Faculty of Business Administration doctoral students; participation support was provided as a panelist in the workshop, which was held under three main headings—“Human Resources”, “Obstacles and Opportunities for Alanya Tourism”, and “Cooperation and Communication Among Stakeholders”—following the opening speeches and the panel)

Contacts with Alanya Municipality; regarding the infrastructure and superstructure works completed and ongoing before the season, and discussions concerning the measures to be taken against potential issues during the summer season, have been maintained before and during every three seasons.

The ALTAV 1st Promotion Activities Workshop has been held. (Emphasis was placed on determining a roadmap by identifying the promotion activities of active tourist facilities in the region and sharing them with all professional organizations, in order to create an inventory of Alanya's tourism promotion activities and enable more effective promotion.)

The Alanya Tourism Coordination Board and Alanya Promotion Strategy Development meetings were attended.

The panel on Tourism in the World and in Türkiye, attended by the Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the period, Mr. Abdurrahman Arıcı, and the ETİK Aegean Tourism Conference;

Professional, educational purpose meetings and planning discussions regarding cooperation studies have been conducted between AHEP University and Akdeniz University Alanya Faculty of Business.

Evaluation meetings regarding the season have been organized with the participation of our members, depending on the developments experienced in Russia and other markets.

E. PROJECTS (Implemented/Supported and Developed)

Various project studies are being carried out and existing projects are being monitored in order to increase Alanya's brand value and to spread tourism from seasonality to a year-round basis:

1. The Surfing Days Project in Alanya has been completed.

Within the scope of the 9-month project we carried out as part of the alternative tourism program titled Alanya Days with Surfing, which is supported by BAKA under its 2013 grant program, the project has been completed by following the remaining stages of the project, organizing a competition, and carrying out the purchase of equipment.

The 2nd Barrier-Free Tourism City Alanya Project has been continued.

Within the framework of efforts to create an exemplary barrier-free city in Alanya with public and private spaces arranged in a way that ensures the participation of local and foreign persons with disabilities living in or visiting Alanya in all areas of social life without needing someone else's help or with minimal assistance, to ensure that persons with disabilities can go on vacation and meet and integrate with different cultures just like barrier-free people, and to introduce the concept of sustainable 12-month tourism to our country, the indefinite extension and implementation of the “Barrier-Free Tourism City Alanya Project” implementation and cooperation protocol—which began in December 2011 for a period of three years under the coordination of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and involving the Ministry of Family and Social Policies Directorate General of Services for the Disabled and the Elderly, Alanya Municipality, Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Alanya Association of Tourist Operators—was evaluated. The 5th meeting of the Barrier-Free Tourism Commission, established within the framework of the “Barrier-Free Tourism City Alanya Implementation and Cooperation Protocol,” was held in Alanya with the participation of the ministry. ( Following the presentation of completed and ongoing studies regarding the Barrier-Free Tourism Project at the meeting, it was discussed to take effective steps regarding the conduct of accessibility studies for disabled visitors in marine tourism and historical sites, and to adopt the importance of the accessibility of vehicles belonging to the companies providing airport transportation services and to conduct work on this matter.)

Participation was provided at the 1st Sustainable Tourism Conference in San Marino. In the conference, which was also attended by an ALTİD representative, the emphasis was placed on how accessible tourism, centered on respect for human rights, can also be transformed into economic opportunities; the congress, where UN World Tourism Organization Secretary-General Taleb Rifai delivered the opening speech, was attended by many members of the San Marino Council of Ministers and professionals working on "barrier-free tourism" worldwide. While an exchange of views was carried out during the panel regarding accessibility in historical cities, assistive technologies, and the problems and solutions encountered by individuals with disabilities during their travels, a technical tour of San Marino's accessibility practices was conducted.

3. The Alanya Nature Sports Development Project has been implemented.

Our Alanya Nature Sports Development project, which we presented with the aim of diversifying Alanya tourism within the scope of BAKA's 2014 Alternative Tourism grant program, has been supported. Our project, with the goal of sustaining alternative tourism opportunities in our region which is suitable for nature sports, includes the determination of trekking, cycling, and off-road routes on existing interconnected roads within a total area of 2,240 square kilometers—spanning 56 kilometers in width and 40 kilometers in depth—covering the ancient cities of Syedra and Leartes in the east of Alanya, Akdağ Ski Center in the northeast, Oba – Alacami, Kızılalan, Aksaray, Basırlı, Mahmutseydi, Türktaş, Süleymanlar, Karamanlar, Gedevet, Alara Han in the west, Hamaxia, the Küçük Ayasofya historical site in the north, and the Karayolları location in the Alanya center to the south; the project involves the placement of kilometer-based directional signs, information boards with route maps, and marker poles starting from Alanya center, the establishment of transit and observation points, the marking of off-road tracks, the printing of maps and brochures, promotion at tourism fairs, and user and dissemination activities through nature hiking seminars. The 9-month project has been completed, and an on-site introduction was provided by organizing a route introductory tour for incoming agency officials.

The 4th Alanya Tourism Sector Cluster Strategy Development project has been carried out.

Within the framework of a plan to create a tourism strategy for the future of Alanya tourism;

In the “Alanya Tourism Sector Clustering Strategy Development Project,” owned by ALTİD, in partnership with Alanya Hamdullah Emin Paşa (HEP) University, and financed by the Western Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA), the Alanya District Governorate, Alanya Municipality, Süleyman Demirel University, and ALTSO are participants.
The objective of the “Alanya Tourism Sector Clustering Strategy Development Project” has been determined as examining the current state of the Alanya tourism sector, particularly in the accommodation field, by following a clustering approach, evaluating its future development potential, and preparing a “Clustering Strategic Roadmap” for the formation of a cluster with enhanced competitiveness and ensured sustainability, as well as designing the necessary organizations to ensure its implementation. Within this framework, it is planned to design a “Strategic Roadmap” for a five-year period, with the first year being detailed, based on findings reached through a series of interviews and various meetings to be organized primarily with representatives of the sector's businesses operating in the accommodation field and all institutions and organizations that contribute to them by providing goods, services, information, or documents. In order to achieve effective results regarding the project, the “Alanya Tourism Sector Clustering Strategy Development Project” has been organized to be carried out in a participatory and collaborative process with the businesses operating in the tourism accommodation field and the relevant stakeholders.

Within the scope of the Alanya Coastal Security Improvement project, which was carried out in 2012 with the support of BAKA through ALTİD, control and necessary maintenance works were conducted on the facilities put into service as of the season. Indeed, within this scope, our 10 disabled citizens, who aim to participate in active life by exercising through the "Every Stroke a Life" project of Detur and Alanya Municipality Barrier-Free Park and Life Center, received training in an indoor swimming pool during the winter months and continued their training in the sea during the summer, as part of the project that includes the barrier-free sunbathing platform and the specially designed wheelchair providing sea access put into service at Cleopatra Beach.

6. Coastal Arrangement Works have been continued.

The renovation of the Alanya west and east coast retaining wall railings was carried out, and the decaying galvanized pipes were replaced by painting them.

West beach toilet number 1 has been renovated and made accessible for the disabled.

The toilet between the beach buffet and beach number 21-22 on the west beach has been renovated.

A first aid office has been established in the west beach buffet area, numbers 21-22.

First aid office services were provided between kiosks number 5 and 6 on the east beach.

Coastal security services were provided throughout the tourism season (at Alanya and Oba beaches),

Blue Flag beach services and lifeguard services were provided at Alanya central beaches.

The construction of an overhead line for the Alanya center west beach water network, the renewal of collectors and booster pumps, and the general maintenance and inspection of the line were provided.

Arrangement and cleaning works on the beaches in the center of Alanya are continued throughout the 12 months. These works are provided regularly with tractors and sand cleaning machines.

The deficiencies of the other public toilets located on the beach have been completed.

A meeting organization on the subject of "Security at Beaches" was held in cooperation with the Alanya District Police Department.

TÜRÇEV paid a thank-you visit regarding our coastal arrangements and conscious operation activities of beach buffets (TÜRÇEV officials stated that ALTİD demonstrates superior efforts in preserving the Blue Flag sites on the Alanya central coasts and meticulously maintaining their criteria, noting that the beaches and coastal buffets under the control of ALTİD since 1991-1992 have always been cited as examples by Ministry officials and governors, and expressed their desire to participate in joint projects within the scope of developing environmental awareness.)

Additionally;

Tourism training was conducted in Alanya within the scope of the ‘Integration and Diversity’ project with the participation of 7 German students. (ABS, a social pedagogical institution supported by the German Red Cross in Bremen, facilitates the transition of youth in need of support from school life to professional life. The iTools (Integrationsmodule im Übergang Schule-Beruf) project, which brings the modules of the “Integration and Diversity (Xenos)” project—aimed at promoting integration—into school and vocational education, is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the European Union (EU) Fund. In the project, which covers a 2-week internship per year in restaurants and hotels in Türkiye, 7 students were ensured to complete their two-week internships in the field of gastronomy at a facility that has been our member for 3 years in cooperation with ALTİD).

Support has been provided to the project titled “A New Life, A New Job,” which was submitted to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security European Union Department's Grant program for the Social Integration and Improvement of Employability of Disadvantaged Persons and whose preliminary application has been accepted by BAKA and the Alanya Probation Directorate; the project aims to bring a certain capacity of individuals within the probation category into the sector by having them participate in Assistant Cook, pastry chef and dessert maker, dishwasher-busser, and air conditioning courses, with its main activities being vocational training seminars and adaptation training.

Participant support has been provided as a social partner to the projects of Ümit Altay Anadolu Otelcilik Okulu.

Within the scope of the project titled Sustainable Tourism, which was prepared and submitted by the Alanya Ümit Altay Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School Directorate during the Erasmus+ 2014 Call for Proposals and supported by IPA resources by the Ministry of European Union Affairs, Presidency of European Union Education and Youth Programmes Centre, Türkiye National Agency, participant support was provided for a visit program to Amsterdam, Netherlands and Leipzig, Germany. It has been observed that socio-cultural objects are highlighted to popularize and diversify tourism in European countries through project trips. The images recorded during the visits, the experiences lived, the observations, and the things learned are shared with students during the teaching and learning process.

1. OUR TRAINING ACTIVITIES

1. Training Courses: Lifeguarding, Basic First Aid, Legionella. Regarding facility employees, renewals were completed for 46 people in basic first aid, 4 in bronze lifeguarding, 58 in bronze and silver lifeguarding, and additionally, 12 people received silver and 17 people received bronze certificate renewals. A Legionella training course was provided within the scope of the amended regulation, and 10 people received their certificates in the first stage. (Due to the amendment of the Regulation on Procedures and Principles for the Control of Legionnaires' Disease, published in the Official Gazette No. 29354 dated 13.05.2015, a seminar was provided to (109) personnel working in the relevant units of businesses in cooperation with ALTİD, the Antalya Provincial Directorate of Public Health Infectious Diseases Control Programs Branch Directorate, and the Environmental Health Branch Directorate.)
2. Training Seminars. Information sessions regarding Labor Law-labor legislation for business officials and information meetings on “green star” subjects have been organized.
3. Training contents received from institutions are being announced: (Various studies, seminars, congresses, and panels regarding food legislation from the District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, Hygiene Training legislation, and the development of the sector are being announced to the sector.)
4. TUYUP Project: Support was provided for the organization of “Information Meetings” for the “TUYUP: Technical Assistance Project for Increasing the Adaptation Skills of Employers and Employees in the Tourism Sector,” which was developed in cooperation with the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and the European Union. G.TÜROFED Representation

Regular participation has been ensured in the Türofed board of directors meetings, which are held once a month.

An action plan has been determined by including sectoral issues and problems in the TÜROFED agenda For example; our views communicated to TÜROFED include bringing issues regarding the Tourism Incentive Law No. 2634 and its regulation (the issue of duration in Ministry inspections, the issue of environment, electricity and water) as well as the issue of social security institution support for facilities back onto the agenda. The Alanya component of the studies initiated within TÜROFED is being carried out by ALTİD.

Prepared as TÜROFED;

Social Security Institution support, energy support, loss and leakage charges in electricity bills, low-interest loan support package backed by the credit guarantee fund, providing flight support to tour operators, Russian tourists entering with ID cards, the creation of a collaborative working platform, the restructuring of loans as a matter of extreme urgency,

Exemption from entertainment tax, SCT refunds, including the accommodation sector within the scope of exporters, VAT application, extension of allocation periods, the Ministry of Economy imposing restrictions on tourism investment incentive certificates, THY providing support for direct regional flights, the reorganization of school holidays-university exams, TEOG and LYS exam calendars, and the updating of the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works No. 5846 in the short term,

Updating the Tourism Incentive Law No. 2634, the establishment of a professional umbrella organization, daily rental houses as illegal hotel activities, work permits for foreign workers, the Coastal Law, the establishment of tourism promotion agencies, the creation of new markets in the medium term, issues that need to be resolved,

The necessity of making tourism a state policy, the preparation of a tourism master plan for the entire country, the continuous updating of the 2023 vision document prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to turn it into a dynamic work program, and the creation of new incentives based on regions and types are reported as demands requested to be implemented in the long term and have been conveyed to the relevant ministries and individuals.

As the Turkish Hotel Association (TÜROFED), a meeting was held in Istanbul with the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Nabi Avcı, during which the urgent measures required for the sector to overcome the current situation were conveyed to Mr. Avcı both verbally and in writing. Issues specific to the Alanya region were discussed, including: transitioning from the payment of occupation fees as a penalty to a rental system for service points located in the coastal zone, the international perception of Turkey and Alanya, promotion, image, Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport strategies, and structural problems in general along with bed supply. Our Minister, Mr. Nabi Avcı, who responded positively to TÜROFED's demands, stated that the demands would be evaluated and the expectations of tourism professionals would be met as soon as possible. Furthermore, he drew attention to the necessity of conducting studies regarding qualified personnel in tourism.

TÜROFED’s requests to the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Avcı, were as follows.

1. In order to be able to manage our debt burden, private business loans should be provided, ensuring they are low-interest and long-term.

2. An interest-free postponement for our current unpaid tax, premium, etc. debts must be announced urgently.

Matters announced within the scope of the 3rd emergency action plan, but which are not currently being implemented, must be put into practice as soon as possible. Within the scope of the law enacted regarding the subject, private property owners other than public lands and forest allocations must also be included in the provision regarding the postponement of occupation fees and rents.

The exporter status criterion, which was reduced to 750 thousand US dollars in the 4th Action Plan, is not applicable for tourism professionals. VAT and SCT refunds must certainly be provided for tourism professionals as well.

5. Furthermore, within the framework of the action plan, the energy discounts provided for green star facilities are not being implemented by the relevant institutions. Additionally, the right introduced by Article 16 of Law No. 2634 should be ensured to be used in an expanded manner, and electricity and water fees should be applied at the lowest tariff. On the other hand; municipalities are demanding high fees for water, solid waste, wastewater, and property taxes. A reasonable solution regarding these elements, which are increasing our costs, must be found urgently.

6. It is of importance for the sector that Türk Hava Yolları focuses on direct flights from abroad to Antalya, Dalaman, Bodrum, Adnan Menderes, and Gazipaşa-Alanya airports.

It is expected that the aircraft support will be expanded to also cover the year 2017. Additionally, it is of great importance that the advertising and promotion activities to be carried out for 2017 are planned and promptly initiated. (09/2016)

Participation and representation support has been provided for various projects within TÜROFED. (e.g., Participation in the introductory meeting and support for the participation of trainer-qualified personnel and the announcement to the sector regarding the training project on increasing the adaptation skills of employers and employees in the tourism sector, which was designed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (TUYUP))

Participation in the Almaty International Hotel Forum. (In the forum, where Kazakhstan tourism and the future of the sector were discussed with majority participation, topics were debated through presentations and panels accompanied by a moderator for 2 days. Discussions were held regarding the presentation of new projects in the field of tourism, the quality of training for personnel employed in the sector, the advantages of brand hospitality, new trends, and guest tendencies)

Participation in the tourism evaluation meetings of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Promotion

The workshop organization in the Indian cities of Mumbai and New Delhi by the Turkish delegation, consisting of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in India, TÜROFED, TÜRSAB, and THY (October 2015).

Participation at the board of directors level has been ensured in the Tourist Security Sub-Working Group meetings, which are held regularly every year between Türkiye and the Russian Federation.

It has been ensured that Mr. Osman Ayık, the Chairman of the T.O.B.B. Tourism Council, is elected as the Vice President of UNWTO Affiliate Members.

Participation was provided in the Education congress organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. (The Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Turkey’s 2023 Vision and Vocational and Technical Education keynote panel includes topics such as the relationship between vocational education and employment, vocational competencies, quality studies and practices in vocational and technical education, and vocational training in enterprises.)

Sincerely

ALTİD Board of Directors