The Utrecht Tourism Fair, which holds great importance for the Dutch market that showed a decline in 2015, has begun. Minister of Tourism Mahir Ünal also attended the fair, which will last for 6 days. While Alanya conducted promotional activities with its large and custom-built 40-square-meter stand at the fair, it also continued its promotional work within the Ministry of Tourism's stand. Alanya was represented at the fair by the President of the Alanya Association of Tourism Professionals (ALTİD) and Board Member of the Turkish Hotel Association (TÜROFED) Burhan Sili, ALTAV Vice President Mehmet Dahaoğlu, and ALTAV Board Members Elvan Güneş and Gürol Birgen.
“WE WILL OVERCOME THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD TOGETHER”
Göksal Kaynak, Contract Manager of TUI Travel, one of the world's largest tour operators, also made assessments regarding the market. Kaynak stated, "2016 will be a difficult year for all of us. There are negative effects across the entire European market. We will determine capacity in February. We will get through this difficult period together."
“NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HUMAN LIFE”
ALTAV Board Member Güneş stated, "According to the data we have received so far, sales are 30 percent behind. Tour operators said they will not reduce [allocations] for now, but they will make a decision on this matter after the January sales. In the upcoming process, we have decided to engage in joint planning with tour operators regarding hosting more members of the press and info groups in Alanya. Unfortunately, we experienced great sadness regarding the terrorist incident that occurred in Sultan Ahmet. Nothing is more important than human life. When we evaluate the situation from a tourism perspective, just as Egypt and France have entered a recovery process, I hope that we can overcome these difficult days with good promotion and image planning."
“TOURISM SHOULD BE A STATE POLICY”
ALTİD President Burhan Sili also stated that Minister of Culture and Tourism Mahir Ünal visited the Alanya stand, that they conveyed topics containing important headings to him, and that they presented him with an example of Alanya Yalos art as a gift for his visit. President Sili, expressing that they continue their work despite all the negative developments occurring throughout the country and the world, said, “Tourism is a sector that closes a large portion of our country's current account deficit and is also a sensitive sector. I reiterate that this sector must be handled within the scope of a state policy.”