miracle yenisi.fh10 - S&M Publication ltd

������������������������ ��������������
��
Antalya Surpasses 5 Million Tourists
The number of foreign
tourists arriving in
southern resort city of
Antalya by air has reached
5,200,507 in
the first seven months
of 2007. Compared
to the same term last
year, the number of
foreign tourists arriving in Antalya by
air rose by 15 percent. 822,131 foreign
tourists arrived in Antalya by air between
August 1st and 19th. Last year,
695,355 foreign tourists came to Antalya
by air. Thus, there have been an
increase of 18 percent in the amount of
foreign tourists visiting Antalya between
August 1st and 19th. Most tourism
experts indicate that the tourism season
in 2007 is far better than 2005, a year
that was marked as a golden year for
Turkish tourism. These experts expect
a continuous increase in the number
of tourists visiting Antalya and Turkey
in general. Moreover Turkey’s coastal
The Mediterranean Association of Tourist
Hoteliers (AKTOB) expects the reduction
of the value added tax (VAT),
to be adopted in 2008, to boost the
Turkish tourism industry. Beginning in
2008, the VAT rate for the sector will
be cut down from 18 to 8 percent.
AKTOB President Osman Ayik reported
that the reduced VAT rate is a welcomed
development after years of campaigning
by the sector. It is also expected
to boost tax revenues from tourism.
“The reduction will not only boost the
sector, but also helps to ward off a
black market. There will be no excuses
for tourism companies to evade the
VAT on the grounds that the rate is too
high,” Ayik said. It has been estimated
that approximately 6 percent of Turkish
national income is derived from tourism.
However, the sector is often criticized
for evading the VAT by failing to provide
receipts to foreign travelers who
are rarely aware of Turkish tax regulations,
and therefore do not hold service
providers accountable by asking for
receipts. In the coming years, the AK-
TOB will focus on encouraging tourism
from Russia and the Commonwealth of
ports welcome thousands of tourists by
sea transportation. Two Israeli-flagged
cruisers brought 3,175 tourists to coastal
Alanya town of Mediterranean
city of Antalya on Monday, August 20.
Moreover, a total of 64,410 tourists arrived
in the town with 83 cruisers since
March 30th. Officials stated that cruise
ships will continue to conduct trips to
Alanya till November and the number
of tourists visiting the town with cruisers
will exceed 100,000 within this period.
Alaaddin Yüksel; The governor of
Antalya - Turkey’s southern resort city
- stated that 8 million tourists will arrive
to the city by the end of 2007. Yüksel
indicated that Turkish Culture and Tourism
Ministry conducted effective promotional
activities this year that contributes
to the number of tourists arriving
in Antalya. Total number of tourists arrived
to Antalya since the beginning of
year exceeded 3,8 million. Yüksel added
that nearly 600 planes land at and
take off from Antalya Airport a day.
Drop in VAT will Boost Turkish Tourism
Independent States (CIS) countries. “In
the past 7-8 years, the tourism industry
along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey
has developed rapidly. There has
been significant growth in bed capacity
and arrivals. We have also been
able to attract alternative markets,
Russia and Ukraine for instance, and
create a trend of vacationing in Southern
Turkey among these countries,”
said Ayik. “We have been working to
develop Turkey’s position as a vacation
destination in Russia and Eastern
Europe for 15 years now. We expect
that in another five years, the number
of arrivals from Russia will grow to 4
or 5 million,” he added. At present, the
largest proportion of tourists visiting the
Antalya region come from Germany ,
while Russians and the Dutch make up
the second and third-largest groups,
respectively.. The AKTOB’s future goal
remains developing tourism figures so
that 40 percent of all Turkish tourism
arrivals will be from Russia and CIS countries,
another 40 percent from other
European nations and the remaining
20 percent from domestic tourists. The
association expects the total number of
arrivals to the Antalya region to reach
8 million by the end of this year. “The
focus of growth in Europe is in the UK.
The number of arrivals from the UK is
already notable, but many still prefer
regions to the west of Turkey . Our aim
is to increase arrivals from the UK to at
least match those from Germany. In the
long-term we would also like the proportion
of local tourists to increase,”
Ayik concluded.
����������������������������
154 Countries
It was reported that Turkey ‘s southern
city of Antalya , defined as the capital
city of Turkish tourism, hosts tourists
from 154 countries. Citizens from Germany
, Russia , France , Japan as well
as Malawi , and Cape Verde preferred
Antalya for holiday. Germany ranks the
first among countries sending tourists to
Antalya . Russia , the Netherlands , Ukraine
and Israel are other countries after
Germany. On the other hand, it was reported
that number of German tourists
visiting Antalya drops this year, whereas
number of Russian tourists rises. 28,408
people from France, 6,202 people from
Italy , 509 people from Spain and 363
people from Greece visited Antalya in
January-July period this year.
������������������������������
Income to Turkey
There are currently 11 golf courses in
Turkey, eight of which are in Antalya
and three in Istanbul. With new courses
under construction in the Antalya
region, the total number is expected to
reach 21 by the end of 2008. Turkish
Golf Federation chief Ahmet Agaoglu
said these courses were among the
best in the world. “Between May 2006
and May 2007, Turkey had an income
of 160 million euros from golf tourism.
That is a pretty good amount, when we
reach 100 courses, the income will increase
to 1.5-2 billion euros.”
He added golf tourism’s share in the
general tourism income of developed
countries was 15-20 percent while it is
0.4 percent in Turkey. “Foreign investers
are willing to enter the Turkish golf
tourism market,” Agaoglu stressed, “but
more than 100 Turkish investors are in
line, too. All the Turkish investors are
very successful at construction of golf
courses, management, and marketing.
I do not think that foreigners will have a
chance in Turkey.”