A new one is added to the increasing tourism activities in Cappadocia: Foreign balloon companies are lining up to fly in the region.
Cappadocia continues to be the center of attention worldwide with its increasing festivals and gastronomy events, as well as cultural and historical tourism. Cappadocia Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (KAPTİD) President Teyfik Ölmez stated that the diversity of tourism in the region is increasing day by day. He stated that the Cultural Road Festival, in particular, will continue for a week next year and that the balloon festival to be held within the scope of this festival attracted great attention in both the domestic and foreign markets. “There are hundreds of foreign balloon companies that want to come to Cappadocia right now and they can’t wait to fly in the region,” said Ölmez.
In Cappadocia, which stands out with its historical, cultural and natural beauties, pre-booking requests from Asian countries, especially Japan, have increased the expectations of tourism professionals for 2025.
NEVŞEHİR (AA) – BEHÇET ALKAN – Cappadocia, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and has a wide range of alternative activities such as fairy chimneys in its wide geography, historical rock-carved monasteries, chapels, churches, underground cities, gastronomy and hot air balloon tours. ‘s recognition in world tourism is increasing every year.
As the end of the year approaches, in addition to reservation requests from different countries for next year, All Nippon Airways (ANA), one of Japan’s largest airline companies, will offer direct flights to Istanbul in 2025, when the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Turkey will be celebrated. The fact that it will increase its flights and the activity in the Asian market made the sector hopeful.
Industry representatives, who have started receiving pre-booking requests for next year, expect 2025 to be productive for regional tourism.
– “Serious reservation requests are coming from South American countries”
Teyfik Ölmez, President of Cappadocia Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (KAPTİD),He told the AA correspondent that next year is promising for Cappadocia tourism unless any unusual situation is encountered.
Stating that pre-bookings in the region, which were 40 percent at the end of November last year, reached 50 percent in the same period this year, Ölmez said that they expect a productive season and said:
“Based on our discussions at the fairgrounds, the 2025 season is going much better than 2024. The reservation flow is also in this direction. There is activity especially in the Asian market. The Japanese market will continue to rise thanks to the increase in direct flights in March. We estimate that the Chinese market will be twice as high compared to 2023 and 2024. The South Korean market will also meet our expectations. Serious reservation requests are also coming from South American countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Brazil.”
Pointing out that tourism is Nevşehir’s most important source of income and that it makes serious contributions to employment, Ölmez said, “Tourism is the locomotive of our city. Its contribution to employment is very high. Unfortunately, there is a personnel shortage in all businesses.” he said.
– “Foreign balloon companies want to fly in Cappadocia”
Explaining that the region has come to the fore in recent years with alternative events under various titles such as festivals and gastronomy, as well as culture, history and nature tourism, Ölmez said, “The Culture Road Festival, which has been held in our region for 2 years, will continue for a week next year. The balloon festival was also included in this event. It makes serious contributions to the domestic and foreign markets. “There are hundreds of foreign balloon companies that want to come to Cappadocia right now and they want to fly in Cappadocia.” he said.
Coşkun Kırtıl, the owner of an agency that provides services to tourists in the region, also emphasized that tourism professionals in Cappadocia are hopeful for 2025.
Stating that Cappadocia has a much more valuable and wider geography than competing destinations where cultural tourism is carried out to attract tourists from different countries, Kırtıl said, “It is necessary to strengthen the work for Cappadocia in fairs or on the internet. It has unique natural beauties. This is a region where many civilizations lived. For this reason, our job in promotion is very easy because there is no similar region in the world.” he said.
Tourism professional Mehmet Özcan noted that the sector has high hopes for 2025.
The region, which was visited by 4 million 826 thousand 662 local and foreign tourists last year, hosted 3 million 846 thousand 703 people in the 10 months of this year.
