Conference tourism suffers in Turkey
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Jale Özgentürk - Referans
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 11, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Conference tourism has also been hit by the global turmoil, says Talha Çamaş, who has much experience in the sector. The attendance to the next few conferences, including the International Monetary Fund and the Fifth World Water Forum meetings, is expected to drop, he says.
The global crisis is shaping the travel preferences of tourists, according to a prominent figure in conference tourism in Istanbul, who says the situation is also affecting the activity of international conferences.
The crisis has started affecting the attendance of conferences, Talha Çamaş said. Çamaş has been involved in the management of over 600 national and international conferences, symposiums and meetings, including the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, or Habitat II, the meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit and Eurovision. Visitur Seyahat, which he founded together with his wife, İlknur Çamaş, is currently arranging the meeting of the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, this year.
The Fifth World Water Forum to be held March 16-22 is feeling the effects of the crisis, and it is proving difficult to reach the target of 20,000 visitors, Çamaş said.
The target audience for the IMF meeting to take place Sept. 29 will not be reached, he said. "I am not sure how many of the official participants will be affected, however, it is private sector participants that will actually be influenced. Prominent figures from the finance sector, such as insurance firms and bankers, normally attend these meetings. However, we expect a decline due to the closures and mergers in the sector. I do not envisage [the participation] to reach 12,000 people, but it will not be below 6,000, either."
Despite a decline in participants, Çamaş said he did not expect a drop in the number of conferences held. "The crisis has also created an advantage," he said. "If the academic world becomes a little aggressive, some conferences that have been delayed in Europe due to high costs may be attracted to Turkey. Attendance may increase if we draw these through promotions."
Though Çamaş suggested Turkey’s tourism volume was growing. "According to the data of the World Tourism Organization, Turkey ranks among the top 10 and gets a share of around $20 billion from a market worth $1 trillion," he said.
It is mass tourism that first comes to mind when talking about tourism and a substantial proportion of investment are made in that field, he said. "However, it is crucial to have a well-rounded prospect about tourism. Not only external tourism but also domestic tourism is important now. Turkish people do now have holiday habits. An indispensable potential has occurred here and the quality has increased."
Regarding the impacts of the global crisis, he said: "There is not currently a great desperation in the sector. However, everyone is inclined to take precautions early."
Advantage
Still, Turkey has an advantage. "It is expected that particularly in European countries the holiday habits will shift to more economical regions," Çamaş explained. "Moreover, as surveys reveal, it was holidays that people first gave up during the periods of crises. However, the situation has changed now, and Europeans deem traveling as a part of life. They do not give up holidays, but look for cheaper [destinations]. Here emerges Turkey’s advantage. Turkey is of better quality compared the Mediterranean, namely Egypt and Tunisia."
Turkey is more expensive than those countries, but Europeans give importance to quality as much as to price, he said.
"Turkey has taken important steps regarding this issue. Staff quality has increased. Most importantly, the all-inclusive system, which we have always criticized, will be of use for the first time, as families with children now demand to know exactly how much a holiday will cost. Many countries want to implement this system; however, Turkey’s hotels know the business well as the country started earlier."
Commenting on his impressions concerning tourism expos in some countries, such as the Netherlands and Germany, he said, "The interest in Turkey is a little greater compared to other countries; however, overall, there is a decline in reservation demands."
Çamaş also said tourism operators should be provided with some incentives. Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay has announced preparations for a tourism package, he said. "However, the package interests not only the Tourism Ministry, but also the Finance Ministry. The requests of the sector are eligible."
In today’s circumstances, tourism is an industry that can bring activity more swiftly compared to exports in terms of employment and yields, Çamaş said, adding, "Exports are on the decline, and it is hard to revive them. Turkey may not make decisions easily in some issues in terms of budget management, but I believe the contribution from the industry with proper prospects will impact on the economy more rapidly."
The package should be announced urgently, he also said. "It is claimed that Europe has not yet felt the full impact of the crisis. If Europe starts to fell the impact more, nobody knows what will happen. Europeans may prefer taking vacation in their own countries."
Upon a question on the tourism boom in Istanbul in the recent years, and whether the crisis had hit the city, he said: "Istanbul has become one of the top 10 attractive cities. The number of tourists has climbed from 2 million to 5.5-6 million. However, the lowest season is being experienced at present, and the prices are very low.
Unlike the same period of last year, domestic market does not see much activity this year. Company meetings and dinners have almost stopped.
"The necessary measures concerning mass tourism should be taken urgently in order not to face noteworthy losses, Çamaş said. "Tour operators choose destinations till the midst of February and March. We should hurry up."
The crisis has started affecting the attendance of conferences, Talha Çamaş said. Çamaş has been involved in the management of over 600 national and international conferences, symposiums and meetings, including the second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements, or Habitat II, the meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit and Eurovision. Visitur Seyahat, which he founded together with his wife, İlknur Çamaş, is currently arranging the meeting of the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, this year.
The Fifth World Water Forum to be held March 16-22 is feeling the effects of the crisis, and it is proving difficult to reach the target of 20,000 visitors, Çamaş said.
The target audience for the IMF meeting to take place Sept. 29 will not be reached, he said. "I am not sure how many of the official participants will be affected, however, it is private sector participants that will actually be influenced. Prominent figures from the finance sector, such as insurance firms and bankers, normally attend these meetings. However, we expect a decline due to the closures and mergers in the sector. I do not envisage [the participation] to reach 12,000 people, but it will not be below 6,000, either."
Despite a decline in participants, Çamaş said he did not expect a drop in the number of conferences held. "The crisis has also created an advantage," he said. "If the academic world becomes a little aggressive, some conferences that have been delayed in Europe due to high costs may be attracted to Turkey. Attendance may increase if we draw these through promotions."
Though Çamaş suggested Turkey’s tourism volume was growing. "According to the data of the World Tourism Organization, Turkey ranks among the top 10 and gets a share of around $20 billion from a market worth $1 trillion," he said.
It is mass tourism that first comes to mind when talking about tourism and a substantial proportion of investment are made in that field, he said. "However, it is crucial to have a well-rounded prospect about tourism. Not only external tourism but also domestic tourism is important now. Turkish people do now have holiday habits. An indispensable potential has occurred here and the quality has increased."
Regarding the impacts of the global crisis, he said: "There is not currently a great desperation in the sector. However, everyone is inclined to take precautions early."
Advantage
Still, Turkey has an advantage. "It is expected that particularly in European countries the holiday habits will shift to more economical regions," Çamaş explained. "Moreover, as surveys reveal, it was holidays that people first gave up during the periods of crises. However, the situation has changed now, and Europeans deem traveling as a part of life. They do not give up holidays, but look for cheaper [destinations]. Here emerges Turkey’s advantage. Turkey is of better quality compared the Mediterranean, namely Egypt and Tunisia."
Turkey is more expensive than those countries, but Europeans give importance to quality as much as to price, he said.
"Turkey has taken important steps regarding this issue. Staff quality has increased. Most importantly, the all-inclusive system, which we have always criticized, will be of use for the first time, as families with children now demand to know exactly how much a holiday will cost. Many countries want to implement this system; however, Turkey’s hotels know the business well as the country started earlier."
Commenting on his impressions concerning tourism expos in some countries, such as the Netherlands and Germany, he said, "The interest in Turkey is a little greater compared to other countries; however, overall, there is a decline in reservation demands."
Çamaş also said tourism operators should be provided with some incentives. Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay has announced preparations for a tourism package, he said. "However, the package interests not only the Tourism Ministry, but also the Finance Ministry. The requests of the sector are eligible."
In today’s circumstances, tourism is an industry that can bring activity more swiftly compared to exports in terms of employment and yields, Çamaş said, adding, "Exports are on the decline, and it is hard to revive them. Turkey may not make decisions easily in some issues in terms of budget management, but I believe the contribution from the industry with proper prospects will impact on the economy more rapidly."
The package should be announced urgently, he also said. "It is claimed that Europe has not yet felt the full impact of the crisis. If Europe starts to fell the impact more, nobody knows what will happen. Europeans may prefer taking vacation in their own countries."
Upon a question on the tourism boom in Istanbul in the recent years, and whether the crisis had hit the city, he said: "Istanbul has become one of the top 10 attractive cities. The number of tourists has climbed from 2 million to 5.5-6 million. However, the lowest season is being experienced at present, and the prices are very low.
Unlike the same period of last year, domestic market does not see much activity this year. Company meetings and dinners have almost stopped.
"The necessary measures concerning mass tourism should be taken urgently in order not to face noteworthy losses, Çamaş said. "Tour operators choose destinations till the midst of February and March. We should hurry up."