ANGRY
Turkish tour operators are demanding their government urgently improves its £2
million UK budget for 2002.
The
sum is exactly the same as this year and unless it is improved tourism
officials predict the country will lose out to rival Mediterranean
destinations.
Akin
Koc, the president of the Association of Specialist Turkish and Northern Cyprus
Tour Operators, said Turkey is suffering due to a perception that it is in the
Middle East and the fact that it is a Muslim country.
He
said: “Considering that Turkey is at a disadvantage of being close to the
war and is a Muslim country, we need at least £5 million in this crisis.
“We
need a more realistic budget, £2 million is not enough for a normal year. There
must be a heavy promotion on television and in the press.”
By
comparison, France has £40 million to spend over the next three years.
Koc
is also the managing director of Anatolian Sky Holidays and says that operators
are not receiving the help they need.
“Tour
operators are the blood vessel of the body of Turkey. We can only do so much,
but the government must give us the maximum it can and not the minimum,”
he said.
He
is bitterly disappointed Turkish Airlines has received subsidies from the
government, but operators are being offered no help.
Koc
says this latest difficulty for Turkey is not as bad as the 1999 terrorist
attacks and earthquakes, but the country is running the risk of losing momentum
with its tourism.
He
said: “The biggest difference this time is that the war has nothing to do
with Turkey directly, but being a Muslim country people might think twice
before coming.
“However,
we are Mediterranean country first and a Muslim one second. And we are not in
The Middle East. If the conflict is over by Christmas I think the market will
not be affected next year. If it continues into January and February, Turkey
will suffer.”
Koc
said forward bookings are down 35% on last year.
He is lobbying government
officials hard for a rethink on the budget, but does not appear hopeful he will
get the money he needs.