The 23rd Balttour Tourism Fair, held in Riga, took place with participants from 40 countries and 470 stands. At the Balttour Tourism Fair held in Latvia, Alanya was represented by the Vice President of the Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation (ALTAV) and the Alanya Tourist Operators Association (ALTİD), Mehmet Dahaoğlu. In a 45-square-meter stand, promotions were made for Alanya, Kemer, and Konyaaltı destinations, as well as for hotels. During his meetings, Dahaoğlu gained important impressions regarding the market and the present and future of the sector.
“90 PERCENT OF LATVIANS PREFER ANTALYA”
Pointing out that the region has held the first place as Turkey's holiday destination since 2013, Dahaoğlu conveyed the information obtained from our Helsinki Tourism Counselor Arzu Emel Yıldız. Reporting that 60,485 people from the country with a population of 2 million 200 thousand came to Turkey in 2015, representing a 2 percent increase compared to the previous year, Dahaoğlu stated that 90 percent of these individuals entering Turkey preferred Antalya.
“HOLIDAYMAKERS MAY DRIFT TO OTHER COUNTRIES”
Stating that the largest tour operators Novaturas, Teztour, and Go Adventura are the leading names in the market, Dahaoğlu said that as a result of meetings held with Helsinki Tourism Counselor Arzu Emel Yıldız, Novaturas Sales Manager Audrone Keinyte, and Marketing Manager Aurimas Janusauska, it was aimed to achieve a 15 percent increase in 3 Baltic countries along with the fuel support to be provided in 2016, and he received the information that Novaturas would bring 8,500 passengers to Gazipaşa Alanya Airport. Dahaoğlu continued his statement: “They expressed that they have been conducting advertising and promotion activities together with our Ministry. It was stated that if the 6,000 dollar fuel support previously mentioned by our honorable minister, which everyone is eagerly awaiting, is implemented, we will move one step ahead of other destinations. It was also expressed that there are concerns regarding passengers shifting to other destinations if there is a delay in the fuel support. Our promotion counselor, on the other hand, emphasized that they will give them the good news as soon as possible.”
“15 PERCENT INCREASE DEPENDS ON THE SECURITY SITUATION”
Mehmet Dahaoğlu, stating that Undersecretary Ömer Murat visited the Alanya stand this year just as he did last year, said: “According to his impressions, he expressed that Alanya is the most popular holiday resort here. In our meeting with Teztour officials Sezgin Özer and Ferhan Yılmaz, they stated that the number of passengers arriving last year was 12,500, and they mentioned that they could increase this very easily by 15 percent if the security issue is resolved.”
“THY DOES NOT CHARGE A BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION FEE”
Dahaoğlu also held meetings in Riga regarding bicycle tourism and sports. Dahaoğlu, thanking Riga Turkish Airlines (THY) General Manager Hüseyin Kara for not charging bicycle transportation fees for teams coming to Alanya-Turkey until the end of 2015 in order to support bicycle tourism under the umbrella of alternative tourism, requested that this support continue in 2016. Dahaoğlu also reported that developments have occurred regarding the President of the Latvian Cycling Federation coming to Alanya in April.