At the Vakantiebeurs tourism fair held in the city of Utrecht, Netherlands, Alanya was represented by Elvan Güneş, General Secretary of the Alanya Tourism Operators Association (ALTİD), and a member of the Board of Directors of the Alanya Tourism Promotion Foundation (ALTAV). Güneş, who assessed the atmosphere of the fair, shared her observations and experiences from her meetings as follows:
"ALANYA WAS PROMOTED WITH A SPECIAL BOOTH."
Our Ministry of Culture and Tourism participated with approximately 50 private businesses and sector organizations in an area of 750 square meters. Including other independent institutions and organizations, Turkey was the largest participant at the Utrecht fair, with a total of 1,300 square meters. As ALTİD, we conducted promotional activities with a stand under the Ministry's umbrella, as well as with a specially designed Alanya stand covering 40 square meters.
"12 MILLION NETHERLANDERS ARE GOING ON VACATION"
The Netherlands is a country with a population of 17 million, and it ranks fourth among European countries for the number of outbound trips. According to official figures from 2014, 12.5 million people go on vacation each year, which represents 80% of the population. A total of 12 billion euros was spent on international vacations in 2014. The preferred vacation choices for Dutch people include beach holidays, city tours, and cultural excursions.
"MINISTER ÜNAL CONGRATULATES ALANYA"
Although the first day of the fair started with some negative news, as a team, we continued our meetings with greater determination and strength. The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Mahir Ünal, visited both of our stands. He held a meeting with the President of ALTİD, Mr. Burhan Sili, to discuss the situation. He was presented with a painting featuring floral motifs made from silk cocoons and a piece of "yallos" art. The Minister congratulated Alanya for having its own separate stand this year.
"WE WILL HOST INFORMATION GROUPS FROM THE NETHERLANDS."
We held meetings with representatives from TUI, one of the largest tour operators in the Netherlands, as well as from Thomas Cook, Corendon, Summer Tour, and ITT. They informed us that sales to the Dutch market are currently, on average, 30% lower compared to last year, and that they are not planning to reduce operations at this time. However, they will wait until the end of January and then make their 2016 season plans accordingly. We exchanged ideas on how to improve the current negative image. They stated that Alanya does not have a promotion problem. We reached a consensus on supporting each other in improving the negative image of Turkey and Alanya. We will host information groups in Alanya on dates that we will determine together.
"JOURNALISTS WILL VISIT ALANYA"
We held a general assessment meeting with Ms. Neşe Kıvılcım Akdoğan, Deputy Director of Promotion at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and Ms. Hilal Can. Together, we will organize two separate press groups during the year 2016. The first group of journalists visiting Alanya will focus on activities targeting the 3rd age group and guests with disabilities. The other group of journalists visiting Alanya will focus on activities targeting the young and middle-aged groups. We will highlight the values that Alanya possesses beyond its beaches, sand, and sun.
"THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ON EACH FLIGHT WILL INCREASE BY 40."
In all of our discussions, we have strived to highlight Alanya Airport, a significant asset for Alanya.
On the first day of the fair, representatives from TAV visited our stand. They stated that, following the expansion of the runway to 2,350 meters, larger aircraft types will be able to land at the airport. They also mentioned that they have reached agreements with 3 Scandinavian airlines for the year 2016, and that, after obtaining the necessary permits, they will be able to bring passengers to Alanya-Gazipaşa Airport using A321 aircraft. Previously, the A320 could carry 180 passengers. Now, the A321 will bring 220 passengers, which means an increase of 40 passengers per flight. Furthermore, they informed us that negotiations are ongoing with 4 other companies and that they will share the details with us once the agreements are finalized.
"THE BEST CITY IS ALANYA"
The Dutch travel website Reisgraag has awarded Alanya the "Best Holiday City" award for 2016. Alanya ranked first in the evaluation, which was based on the opinions of 6,000 people. This award was a significant source of encouragement for us at the fair. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to this achievement.
"The balance between service quality and price must be maintained."
My overall impression is that the recent decline we have experienced is primarily due to security concerns. We will not be able to attract more tourists simply by lowering prices. Currently, the biggest other concern is that the discounts being offered could negatively impact the quality of service. It is crucial to maintain a balance to prevent a decline in the quality of service in the region.
"BEDS SHOULD BE MARKETED AT A FAIR PRICE."
We are all aware that this season will not be easy. I especially hope that employers do not put pressure on employees in terms of occupancy rates, and that we can get through these difficult times together through solidarity. The increasing number of beds in recent years is causing this negative situation to be felt even more. Now, instead of adding new beds, it is necessary to market the existing beds at more reasonable prices and to create different concepts.
"NEXT YEAR, THERE WILL BE AN EVEN LARGER ALANYA BOOTH."
In 2017, I contacted the fair center to inquire about having a presence near the Türkiye stand and with a larger Alanya promotional stand. I completed the necessary applications. When the 2017 plans are released, they will give us the option to prioritize our selection. With this, I wish everyone a good and productive season.