At the SENIOR Fair, held between November 2-4 in Sweden's capital Stockholm for the 3rd Age group, ALANYA was represented by ALTİD Board Member Levent Alanya and ALTSO Tourism Commission Chairman Levent Benal. Considering that this was the first time we participated in the fair as Alanya, and that the fair appeals exclusively to the 3rd Age group, it was visited by a significant number of 10,500 people. In addition to Alanya, IQ Travel, Wow Hotels, Muğla Governorship, Turkish Airlines, Oruçoğlu Termal Resort, the Council for the Development of Health Tourism in Türkiye, and Turkiet Resor were featured at the Ministry of Tourism stand. Furthermore, Detur and Solresor, which operate in Alanya, also participated in the fair at their own stands. Fritidsresor and Vingresor were at the Southern Cyprus stand. Because these two agencies also promote other countries, the Tourism Counselor's Office does not permit them to participate in the Türkiye stand. Spain, Greece, Southern Cyprus, and Egypt were among the participants across 112 stands featuring the Travel, Tourism, Health, Hobby, Housing, Insurance, and Banking sectors.
The Turkey stand, located in the best position at the Fair, and Alanya were the center of attention. In addition to the existing promotional materials, the catalog printed specifically for this fair also received great interest. The catalog text will also be published as a bulletin by the Tourism Counselor's Office. In our meetings with visitors to the stand, agency officials, press members, and officials from the Swedish Retirees Association, it was explained that Alanya is a destination where short or long-term holidays can be taken for 12 months, that winters are mild, that air temperatures are almost the same as in Spain, that transportation is now very easy with two airports, that the marina is operational, that golf courses are in the planning stage, that guests can engage in various activities and participate in different tours, that Alanya is a city of culture and sports, that accommodation facilities, beaches, and the city's infrastructure are ready for the elderly and people with disabilities, that health institutions are equipped with all kinds of facilities, and that there is an abundance of food and beverage alternatives, as well as a variety and affordability of shopping opportunities.
It is observed that Spain is the biggest competitor of Türkiye and Alanya in this market. The main reasons for this are Spain's early start in tourism, the continuation of social rights in their own country for retirees during long-term stays due to Spain being a member of the European Community, and the perception that winter temperatures are higher than in Alanya.
The Swedish Social Insurance Agency is currently finding it very difficult to allocate resources for the treatment and rehabilitation of its disabled or ill citizens abroad. However, as a result of the meetings we have conducted, we have determined that a resource could be created on this matter. A Swedish Social Insurance Agency official will likely visit our city at the beginning of December.