turksih tour operators demand more help

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.