The Blue Voyage - S&M Publication ltd

Yalcintas Named Chairman ofASCAMEThe Chairman of the Executive Boardof Istanbul Chamber of Commerce(ITO) and Istanbul Convention and VisitorsBureau (ICVB); Murat Yalçintasnamed as the Chairman of Associationof Chambers of Commerce & Industryof the Mediterranean (ASCAME).“ASCAME will contribute to not onlycommercial relations but also settlementof peace in the Mediterraneanand the world,” Yalçintas said duringa reception hosted at ITO HQ inIstanbul on the sidelines of 18th regulargeneral assembly meeting ofASCAME that took place in Istanbul.Caravan Tourism Gets Popularin CappadociaThe number of camping sites allocatedto caravans have been gradually increasingin Cappadocia region, whichis one of the most renowned culturaland natural tourist hubs in Turkey.The camping centres, which spreadover on a 7,000 sq.m. area, offer manyservices such as parking lots, showers,pools, toilets, electricity and water forboth local and foreign tourists whovisit the region with their caravans.By paying a fee of 5-15 EUR, visitorscan benefit from all the facilities at thesesites which are also open to camperswho would like to pitch up tents.According to sources, many caravannersfrom Germany, France, Czech Republic,Hungary and Italy prefer Cappadociaregion for their camping holidays.Last Days for GAP Tourby Arsan TourismArsan Tourism is organizing a GAPTour between 8 and 12 August2007. The tour includes stops at Gaziantep,Adiyaman, Nemrut, AtaturkDam, Harran Sanliurfa, Mardin,Midyat, Hasankeyf, and Diyarbakir .4 rooms left for this special interesttour. Last reservation date is June 9.For more information about the tour andreservations please contact Arsan Tourism0342 220 6464 pr www.arsan.com.trFinnish Tour Operator to Expand in TurkeyFinland’s largest package tour operatorAurinkomatkat is looking for a new destinationin southern Turkey. In 2006 theturnover of the firm, which is a part of theFinnair Group, was 240 million euros.Jukka Salama, managing director ofAurinkomatkat, told the Turkish DailyNews that the firm is currently researchingnew business opportunities insouthern Turkey . “Our main destinationsat the moment are Alanya andMarmaris but we also send tourists toSide, Kemer, Bodrum and Belek. Weare very keen to expand our productportfolio by adding a new destination,which we will market in our Summer2008 brochure,” Salama said.Aurinkomatkat currently holds a 40percent share of the Finnish packageholiday market. In 2006 the totalturnover of the company was 260million euros. In 2006 approximately48,000 Finns vacationed in Turkey .According to Mr. Salama, package toursfrom Finland experienced a temporarydrop last year because of the bombingsin Marmaris and Kusadasi. “However,this year we can already see a change.The number of Finnish holidaymakersThe Turkish Associationof TravelAgents (TÜRSAB)Chairman BasaranUlusoy notedthat from this yearonward Travel TurkeyFair will take place in Izmir instead ofIstanbul that has been its original venue.A press conference to promote TravelTurkey Fair was held at the Izmir HiltonHotel where Ulusoy provided informationabout the event. Izmir GovernorCahit Kiraç, Mayor Aziz Kocaogluand Izmir Trade Chamber (IZTO) ExecutiveBoard Chairman Ekrem Demirtaswere present at the conference.Ulusoy said they decided together withGerman fair mogul, Hannover MesseInternational, to move the fair to Izmir .“We will continue to develop thefair, which has become an internationalbrand, in Izmir. We have reachedan eight-year agreement withHannover Messe. We will promotethe fair in Tunisia, Morocco, Greeceand Croatia for these countriesto set up stands at the fair. We willin Turkey is on the rise and we expectit to reach 70,000 this year. If domesticpolitics in Turkey remains stable, thegrowth will continue further in 2008.”Weekend breaks to Istanbul are alsoon the cards for the firm that is part ofthe Finnair Group. “We will be veryinterested in offering long weekendbreaks to Istanbul once Finnair relaunchesdirect flights to Istanbul . Ideally,there should be two flights a weekto enable people visiting Istanbul tohave a long weekend or a mini-break,”Salama explains. At the momentonly Turkish Airlines operates directflights between Helsinki and Istanbul .Aurinkomatkat started marketing Turkeyto Finnish holidaymakers in 1984.Its first destination was Marmaris.Alanya, which today attracts almosthalf the Finnish tourists visiting Turkeyeach year, was included in the firm’sproduct range in 1987. Today, theaverage cost of a one-week holidayfor a family of four in Alanya in Augustcosts approximately 1,600 euros.Aurinkomatkat markets both hotelsand self catering accommodation,but only a few all-inclusive options.Travel Turkey Moves to Izmirwipe away the dust in the brand ofIzmir thanks to this fair,” said Ulusoy.He added that they had initiateda project for the illumination of theancient city of Ephesus and therestoration of the ancient theater.Kiraç said it was a very good idea tomove the fair from Istanbul to Izmir .“ Izmir has history, culture, humanresources and the will to organizethis fair successfully,” he added.Mayor Kocaoglu said they had acceleratedthe restoration of historicsites in the city and made investmentsin tourism. “This fair will be a turningpoint and touchstone in Izmir .”IZTO Chairman Demirtas said Izmir received3.9 percent share from Turkey ‘stourism and added: “This rate means thatIzmir does not exist in the tourism sector.This fair is an opportunity for the city.”This year, with the cooperation of IzmirFair (IZFAS), TÜRSAB and HannoverMesse, Travel Turkey will be held onDecember 13-16 at the Izmir Fair Area.The fair’s partner country will be Greeceand the theme will be Culture Tourism.