In line with its “Turkey Century” vision, TÜRSAB is implementing a brand new project within the scope of its efforts to achieve high targets in tourism for our country. TÜRSAB Tourism Century Project
The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB) is implementing a new project in order to move forward in line with the “Turkey Century” vision put forward by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and to contribute to the country’s tourism.
While the project aims to spread tourism to 12 months and throughout the country; TÜRSAB Chairman of the Board of Directors, Firuz Bağlıkaya, noted that Turkey has a great potential both in terms of product and human resources to do much better in promotion and marketing.
“BREAKING OUR OWN RECORDS IS NOT ENOUGH FOR US”
Baglikaya, “It is not enough for us to break our own records by looking at the natural increase in tourism. “The point is not just to do better than what we do over time, but to do better than what our competitors do.”said.
THE BIGGEST SUPPORT TO TURKEY’S DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IS FROM TOURISM
Announcing that they will launch a new work plan to raise the flag higher in tourism, Bağlıkaya said, “In the last 20 years, our country has taken very important steps within the scope of development and development. After the studies carried out, all sectors received their share from this development. As a sector, we wish to make the greatest contribution to this development and development from now on, as we have done so far. We are aware of what kind of problems we are facing regarding the economy. Tourism is one of the most powerful instruments we have to overcome these problems.” he said.
NET FOREIGN EXCHANGE CONTRIBUTION, EMPLOYMENT, DIRECT INCOME
Baglikaya said, “Tourism is a direct source of income for our citizens with its net foreign exchange contribution to our economy, providing resources to more than 50 sectors, and the employment it creates,” and emphasized that the competition in tourism is very sharp and countries are making intense efforts to increase their tourism figures. Stating that the country has achieved great success in many areas of tourism, Bağlıkaya said, “Expanding tourism over 12 months, ensuring a balanced distribution of tourism throughout the country, and increasing the rate of high-income tourists are among our biggest goals. Achieving better in tourism is an issue that not only our Ministry and tourism professionals but also everyone living in this country should take responsibility for. Tourism is indispensable for our country. “Local governments, chambers of commerce, development agencies, non-governmental organizations, local people, all local elements must be a part of this work,” he said.
“THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO DO BETTER THAN THE COMPETITORS”
Baglikaya noted that Turkey has a great potential both in terms of product and human resources to do much better in promotion and marketing. “It is not enough for us to break our own records by looking at the natural increase in tourism all over the world, depending on the conjuncture or trends. “The point is not just to do better than what we do over time, but to do better than what our competitors do.”made his assessment.
SPREADING TARGET TOURISM WITH 81
Turkey is in a more advantageous position than its competitors, but the number of tourists coming to the country is far below the current potential. Baglikaya emphasized, “We have a tourism product that can be offered in four seasons, but the number of tourists we receive is limited in certain months. The number of visitors to Turkey in January-February-March and November-December is 14.5 million. Tourists arriving during this period constitute 29 percent of our total visitors. In the same period, 31.2 million people went to Spain. Its proportion in the total is approximately 37%.
Our goal is to extend tourism to months outside the sea, sand and sun season as much as possible. Almost 75 percent of the tourists coming to our country come in the six-month period, and 25 percent in the other months. Contrary to the target in tourism, we are stuck with more summer months. Our goal should be to extend tourism to months outside the sea, sand and sun season as much as possible.” said. TÜRSAB Tourism Century Project
“SPREADING THE CAPACITY SUCKED IN 5 CITIES TO EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTRY”
Baglikaya stated that another goal for many years has been to ensure the balanced spread of tourism all over the country; Istanbul, Antalya, Muğla and Izmir have a share of 75 percent, and only 25 percent of the incoming tourists are distributed to the remaining provinces.told.
Baglikaya stated that the goal is to spread the capacity confined to 5 cities to every corner of the country.
“WE NEED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FROM COMPETITORS WITH OTHER TYPES OF TOURISM”
Turkey’s; Pointing out that it maintains its position in the market as a destination with cheap holidays, good facilities and good service, Baglikaya said, “It is not possible to achieve the tourism target of 12 months and spread across the country by repeating what we have already done, and to increase the number of tourists from the high income group. Even if we increase the number of tourists by building 2nd – 3rd – 4th row hotels in our holiday resorts, this trend of tourism will not result in high enough tourism income to surpass our competitors. We compete mainly with sea, beach and sun products offered by all countries in the Mediterranean. We need to highlight our history, culture and other types of tourism in which we are superior in the field of competition, and we should focus more on the areas where we will make a difference.” said.
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PURPOSE OF “TOURISM CENTURY”
TÜRSAB, which has half a century of experience, 15 thousand members, 100 thousands of employees, 35 Regional Representation Boards and 15 Specialization Presidencies spread all over the country, has initiated the “Tourism Century” project to accompany the “Turkey Century” vision. In the announcement, TÜRSAB Chairman of the Board of Directors, Firuz Bağlıkaya, shared the information that the aim of the “Tourism Century” project is to see Turkey as a single destination and instead of promoting and marketing it as a single tourism product with central structures, they will treat each region as a separate tourism destination with its prominent values.
Firuz Bağlıkaya listed the work to be done in this context as follows:
- We will compile existing studies such as important plans and inventories for tourism and make them functional,
- We will provide special training to travel agencies throughout Türkiye within the scope of the project,
- We will develop marketing strategies specific to the tourism values of the region and make promotional plans,
- We will determine target fairs suitable for the prominent tourism characteristics of the regions and ensure free participation of our travel agencies,
- We will process local legends and stories for tourism purposes and turn them into products that will contribute to the tourism economy as cultural and artistic elements,
- We will create promotional material for touristic products specific to the regions,
- We will organize destination-based tourism workshops to increase the role of local people in tourism activities and increase local awareness of touristic values and tourism economy.
“WE EXPRESS THAT WE ARE DETERMINED, COURAGEOUS AND HAVE FAITH”
Baglikaya continued his words as follows; “ It should not be forgotten that turning a tourism element into a salable product and reaching its consumers can only be done through travel agencies. While realizing the “Tourism Century”, we will benefit from the experience of TÜRSAB Specialized Directorates, the power of our Regional Representation Boards at the local level, the knowledge of our TÜRSAB Academy and TÜRSAB R&D departments, and TÜRSAB TV’s informative broadcasts about our sector. Thanks to TÜRSAB Rota, a subsidiary of TÜRSAB, we will benefit from the power of our 15 thousand travel agencies across Turkey and ensure that tourism products can be sold by all travel agencies.”
Baglikaya stated that, as TÜRSAB, he believes that tourism can give much more to Turkey. “We are in a period where world politics and sociology are warming much faster than global warming. The antidote to this dangerous warming is tourism. Just as tourism can give more to Turkey; With this vision, Turkey can give more to the world. On this occasion, we express that, as TÜRSAB, we are ready with our knowledge, determined, brave and confident to make the right move at the right time. Tourism can give much more. “May the “Century of Tourism” be beneficial to our country”he said. TÜRSAB Tourism Century Project
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