The manager of Gazipaşa Alanya Airport (GZP), which is operated by TAV Holding, Cengiz Aşıklı, met with representatives of incoming agencies for breakfast at Çıtırım Pastanesi, located in the Kestel region of Alanya. The meeting, where the current state of Alanya tourism and the airline plans for GZP in the 2018 season were discussed, was attended by Alanya Deputy Mayor Ali Yenialp, the Vice Presidents of the Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation (ALTAV) and the Alanya Tourism Operators Association (ALTİD), Mehmet Dahaoğlu, the Chairman of the TÜRSAB Alanya Regional Executive Board (BYK), Suat Çavuşoğlu, the former Chairman of Skal Alanya, Mehmet Nedanlı, and agency representatives.
"LAND ACQUISITION IS NEEDED FOR GZP'S GROWTH"
Dahaoğlu informed the agency representatives about his meeting with Sani Şener, the Chairman of the Executive Board of TAV Airports Holding, in Istanbul. He stated that Şener has a close friendship with Alanya's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and that the expansion of the airport is under the jurisdiction of the State Airports Authority (DHMİ). He also said that if the necessary steps are taken, TAV will immediately begin the expansion process, as they always do.
Dahaoğlu mentioned that tourism professionals are concerned about the airport's parking capacity and access points. He expressed confidence that TAV will intervene and take the necessary steps once the relevant institutions take action and the land acquisition process is completed.
"OUR HOTEL PRICES ARE VERY COMPETITIVE FOR EUROPEANS"
TÜRSAB Alanya BYK Chairman Çavuşoğlu stated that reservations are doing well on a global scale. "There has been an increase of up to 70% in the Eastern European market compared to 2017 reservations. This can be attributed to our country's improved foreign relations and the fact that competing countries are not present in this market, which has led them to raise their prices above normal levels. Tour operators have found the prices in our country attractive and have increased their 2018 flight plans accordingly."
CENGİZ AŞIKLI GIVES GOOD NEWS
Airport Manager Aşıklı, who provided statistical information about the airport's activity, said, "If there are no unforeseen circumstances, there will be 8,700 flights at GZP, and the number of passengers is expected to reach approximately 1.2 million. Flights will be operated to 37 destinations, including domestic routes, from 13 countries. 2018 will be a milestone for us. The airport, which was once said to be 'impossible,' is now among the most important airports in Turkey. TAV, which operates airports in many countries around the world, has overcome the challenges by putting all its resources into it. We will work together with our tourism professionals to reach even better levels."
"WE ARE DEPENDENT ON THE TOURISM ECONOMY"
Alanya Deputy Mayor Yenialp stated that the Alanya Municipality and tourism professionals are working in harmony, and that Alanya, which is dependent on the tourism economy, competes with countries around the world with its bed capacity and service quality.
"DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM STUTTGART AND COLOGNE"
After the meeting, Burhan Sili, the Chairman of ALTİD and a member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation (TÜROFED), commented on the announcement of 1.2 million passengers made by Aşıklı. "The increase in the number of passengers at GZP, which is of great importance for the development of the region's tourism, is extremely good news. The fact that Sun Express Airlines will also operate flights from the cities of Stuttgart and Cologne in Germany is another positive development. We would like to thank our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, and everyone involved."