COSMOS managing director Nigel Wright has urged Turkey tourist chiefs to launch a new advertising campaign to haul itself out of a bookings crisis.
“If there is a problem in a country, which there clearly has been in Turkey, you must put your hand in your pocket,” he said. “The Dominican Republic is coming back, but only slowly as it did not have the money to promote the destination.
“Egypt, on the other hand, spent a lot of money after its problems and it has done well. It is important Turkey does the same.”
The Turkish Tourist Office has already admitted that visitor numbers for 1999 are expected to be down 10% to 950,000.
Meanwhile, Wright claimed contracting in Greece and Turkey had been made easier because of the strong Cosmos brand name. Unlike Spain, hoteliers are also not tied into long-term contracts with rival operators, he added.