At the East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair (EMITT), which is considered among the world's most important tourism fairs, the Alanya Tourist Operators Association (ALTİD) continued its promotional activities with a specially prepared 63-square-meter stand under the Alanya brand. The Alanya stand had an important guest at EMITT, where the pulse of world tourism beats. Alanya Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu met with tourism professionals at the Alanya stand, conducted a season evaluation, and received certain requests from the tourism professionals. The fair, which is open only to tourism professionals for the first two days, will also be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday.
“DOMESTIC MARKET SHARE SHOULD BE 25 PERCENT”
Pointing out the importance of expanding into different markets in tourism, ALTİD President and Turkish Hotel Association (TÜROFED) Board Member Burhan Sili stated, “Russia’s situation and the fluctuations in the European market have moved tourism to a different point. We need to turn towards China, India, and the Middle East. To avoid taking a major hit from these types of fluctuations, it is necessary to secure at least a 25 percent share from the domestic market. The state and investor enterprises must act together during difficult processes, and tourism must become a state policy. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, visited our stand and stood by our Alanya. I thank him for this sensitivity.”
“MORE PLANES SHOULD LAND AT GZP”
Stating that consumers are waiting for last-minute sales, Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation (ALTAV) Vice President Mehmet Dahaoğlu made the following statement: “This year, our domestic guests can spend their holidays in Alanya in peace. Members of the press have very important duties during the crises that occur. It is very important that we act in line with national interests. As our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, announced, there is a need for new airline companies to land at Gazipaşa Alanya Airport (GZP). We are establishing the necessary contacts during fairs and our overseas visits to ensure that more aircraft land at GZP.”
“WE ARE EXPLAINING THE ADVANTAGES OF GZP”
ALTAV Board Member Kerim Yılmaz, emphasizing the importance of GZP, stated, “There is a charter problem. We must be able to fly more aircraft from different markets to GZP. As ALTAV, in this context, we conduct the necessary discussions at EMITT and at the 25 international fairs in which ALTAV participates, and we present the airport's attractiveness and advantages in the form of reports.”
“COMPETITION IS MISUNDERSTOOD”
Stating that they will manage a difficult year this year, Alaiye Otelleri General Manager Selim Soylu said, “We will not lose morale and we will do our best. At EMITT, the domestic market looks good. This year, businesses that have become brands and achieved guest satisfaction will win. We will definitely not slash prices. Competition in Turkey is being perceived incorrectly. No one should slash prices. If we think of Turkey as a ship, we are all inside this ship, and if this ship is harmed, we are all harmed.”
“THE DOMESTIC MARKET HAS RECEIVED THIS MUCH INTEREST FOR THE FIRST TIME”
Stating that the domestic market has gained much more importance following the standstill of the Russian market, Katya Hotels Owner Tourism Professional Kamil Köseoğlu said, “For the first time in the EMITT that I have participated in for years, I have seen such a crowd. This intense interest shows that the importance of the domestic market has increased, but it will not be easy to fill the gap left by the Russian market.”
“DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES SHOULD PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT”
Emphasizing that they were more heavily affected by crises because sports tourism and alternative tourism investments were not made in previous periods, Cartier Tour Owner Mustafa Kemal Canfedai stated, “We must now move away from sea, sand, and sun investments. As a tourism professional who constantly meets with alternative tourism groups, I know the importance of sports and alternative tourism very well. To date, I have held meetings in these fields in many countries around the world and have brought numerous sports clubs, primarily bicycle clubs, to Alanya for long-term camps. I want development agencies to provide more support to these areas.”