JATA Board of Directors Met with Tourism Sector Representatives:
The Board of Directors members of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), brought to Antalya through an organization by the Western Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA) and the Antalya Governorship, met with officials from the relevant institutions and organizations of the tourism sector in the region. In the introductory meeting, which was also attended by Antalya Deputy Governor Recep YÜKSEL, the JATA Board of Directors members stated that they wanted to work harder to increase the number of Japanese tourists coming to Antalya and to further develop their cooperation.
At a breakfast meeting held at the Titanic Resort Beach Hotel, aimed at sustainable tourism, increasing the number of Japanese tourists, and developing new region-focused tour programs; JATA Board Members met with Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism İbrahim ACAR, Kerim ÇAVUŞOĞLU and Suat ÇAVUŞOĞLU from TÜRSAB, Bekir AKKAŞ from AKTOB and TUROFED, Nizamettin ŞEN from ATAV, Sinan İNAN from the Antalya Convention Bureau, Adnan ÖZSOY and Funda ÇELİK from POYD, Bülent BÜYÜKYİĞİT from BETÜYAB, Şener GÜRLER from KETOB, Tolga GÜREL from ALTİD, Ferit TURGUT and Gamze İNCİOĞLU from SAYD, Betül TOPBAŞLI from LATUYAB, and Metin ÖLÇER from KOTEB.
Antalya Deputy Governor Recep YÜKSEL expressed his pleasure in hosting the JATA Board of Directors members. Deputy Governor Responsible for Tourism YÜKSEL, conveying their regrets for not attending the meeting because the foreign delegation arrived together with the Minister of Internal Affairs of Antalya Governor Dr. Ahmet ALTIPARMAK, stated that a meeting that would yield positive results regarding tourism had taken place.
PARTICIPANTS INTRODUCED THEMSELVES
JATA Board members Makoto SHINAGAWA, Kazuko SHINAGAWA, Tatsuo HAYASHIDA, Fuyumi HAYASHIDA, Yuji HARA, Nobuhisa FUKUDA, Jungo KIKUMA, Michiko KIKUMA, Kotaro KOGI, Haruko KOGI, Satoshi KUROKAWA, Emiko KUROKAWA, Hiroshige HORIE, Nobuko HORIE and Eiko KIJIMA, along with Secretary General Kazuyoshi HASEGAWA and his assistant Koshu FUSE, introduced themselves. The JATA Board members, who expressed their gratitude for the hospitality and noted that they were in Antalya, stated that the number of tourists coming to Turkey in 2011 was 31 million and the number of foreign tourists coming to Antalya was 11 million, and noted that they learned that of the 190,000 Japanese tourists who came to Turkey, only 10,000 Japanese tourists came to Antalya. Stating that they saw Antalya as a suitable destination for Japanese tourists, JATA senior executives recorded that they hope to further strengthen cooperation, especially to send Japanese tourists, and used the following expressions:
“Very few tours are organized to Antalya. We believe that Antalya is an attractive destination after they arrive here. After returning to Japan, we want to work harder on tour programs that include Antalya. We visited the historic Kaleiçi and were very impressed. Ancient historical sites are of great interest to Japanese tourists. We want to enhance cooperation so that the number of Japanese tourists increases two to three times or even more.”
ANTALYA STAND AT JATA TURISM FAIR
Stating that BAKA has been participating in the JATA Tourism Fair for 2 years and that they expect intensive participation from the region in 2013, BAKA Head of Foreign Relations Unit Mehmet PEHLİVAN also said, “During our meetings with JATA executives, it was brought up that if there is a demand from the Antalya region, a separate stand could be opened. As BAKA, we can provide the organization if there is a demand. They have not visited Antalya before. They have serious plans regarding cultural tourism. We also thank the Titanic hotels for their contributions to the realization of the organization.”
Officials from the relevant institutions and organizations of the sector, expressing their satisfaction that JATA's management is located in Antalya, also stated that they are always ready for collaborative work and, reminding that the Antalya Convention Bureau has previously hosted the congresses of travel agency associations from Germany and the United Kingdom, suggested that JATA's congress could also be held in Antalya if desired. The JATA Board of Directors members, stating that they would evaluate the suggestion, also said that they could offer a discount if Antalya wishes to promote the Antalya destination with a separate stand at the 2013 JATA Tourism Fair.
At the end of the meeting, JATA Board members, together with representatives of the relevant institutions and organizations of the tourism sector, also had a group photo taken. On behalf of the JATA Board, Secretary General Kazuyoshi HASEGAWA also expressed gratitude to Titanic Resort Beach Hotel for their services. (03.11.2012)
(www.baka.org.tr)