THE TURKISH government has halved landing fees and passenger service charges on charter flights to key airports in an effort to kick-start business this winter.
Passenger service charges have been cut to $7.50 at Dalaman, Bodrum and Antalya airports, while fees now start at $6 for landing and $35 for parking an aircraft. The concessions run until March 31.
But UKoperators are pressing for an extension of the discounts throughout summer 2000. They argue that the discounts should continue in order for the concessions to have any major impact and to reverse the drop in visitor figures.
Visitor numbers from the UK to Turkey have fallen to an estimated 750,000 in 1999, down from 1m last year. The fall has been blamed on terrorist threats against tourists and earthquakes that have rocked the country in the past few months.
Tapestry Holidays sales director Andrew Lee said: “We are putting pressure on the Turkish government to keep the reductions in force for next summer. Some 95% of passengers travel at this time.”
He said Tapestry’s carryings had fallen to 16,000 this year, down from 20,000 in 1998. He is forecasting 18,000 bookings for next year.
Unijet’s general manager short haul, John Riley, warned:”Turkey will have to be price competitive in 2000.”
The Turkish Tourist Office’s UK director Savas Kuce has asked the government to extend the airport concessions and is waiting for a decision to be made.
The TTO aims to increase visitor numbers back up to 1m in 2000. Kuce has been given $4.5m to spend on image promotion in the UK and Ireland, and up to $1.5m to carry out joint promotions, workshops and educationals with the travel trade next year.