TURKEY PLANS POST-EARTHQUAKE TOURISM COME-BACK AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET

The Turkish government is hoping to revitalise Middle East tourism to

its country following a severe regional downturn after last year’s

tragic earthquake.

"In 1999 the number of tourists arriving in Turkey from all over the

world, and especially from the Gulf, decreased because of the August

earthquake," said Halit Yasarkurt, Information Counsellor at the Turkish

Tourism and Information Office. "Now the damage has been repaired and we

are recovering from the earthquake with the help of the world,

including Gulf countries, we are ready to welcome tourists back."

Last year tourist figures to Turkey fell by 2.5 million on 1998’s record

turnout of 9.8 million. Tourists arrivals from the Gulf last year

dropped to 22,128 from 40,736 in 1998.

Turkey says its Gulf revitalisation campaign will be launched in full

strength at Arabian Travel Market 2000, which will be held at the Dubai

World Trade Centre from May 2-5.

"Many travel agencies and hotels from Turkey will be participating

because business from the Gulf is essential," said Yasarkurt. "Our

primary target this year is to recover our 1998 tourist arrival figures

from the Gulf," said Yasarkurt. "Once we have achieved this, we will

step up or target to 50,000 Gulf tourists.

"We also want to explain to the regional travel trade our expansion

plans which include infrastructure investment in new international

airports, marinas, highways and tourism centres.

"We are spending huge amounts to protect our natural beauty and historic

sites. We are also developing specialist holidays such as yachting,

diving, rafting, windsurfing, fishing, golf, air sports and even winter

sports, mountaineering, trekking and plateau hiking."

Yasarkurt says Turkey’s tourist ambitions don’t stop at merely accepting

holiday makers from the Gulf. "We also want companies from the Gulf to

invest in Turkey’s tourism sector," he explained.

"We now have laws that any company can invest in the Turkish tourism

sector and benefit from incentives such as free land allocations for 49

years."

Turkey is one of 50 countries and 40 official tourism bodies to be

represented at Arabian Travel Market 2000, which is organised by Reed

Travel Exhibitions (RTE).

"Turkey has been participating in Arabian Travel Market since it was

launched in 1994 and had achieved year-on-year growth," said Matt

Thompson, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market.

"Though business has been hit last year due to a tragic event, we are

confident that its presence at this year’s show will be well received

and given a good response from the regional trade."