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Don’t wreck Turkey, operators are warned
Turkey specialist operator Anatolian Sky has warned that mass market companies are in danger of wrecking the long term future of the destination by piling tourists into unspoilt resorts.
Managing director Akin Koc said regions of the country remain untarnished by mass tourism – but raised fears the tranquillity may not last long.
Such a scenario would be “disaster”, he said.
“Turkey has seen significant increases in tourism from UK over the last few years,” explained Koc. “This is because it offers great value being outside the Eurozone and the peace and quiet of family run hotels that are now hard to find in most of the Mediterranean.
“Mass tourism operators have so far restricted their activities to a few resorts on the west coast but there is a real danger they will start to move into Turkey’s unspoiled resort areas in 2006, which will be a disaster for the future development of tourism.”
Koc stressed the UK trade needs to resist sending plane loads of tourists looking for a cheap beach holiday and instead target more discerning travellers.
“It is important to the future growth of tourism that the trade encourages this sort of visitor who in interested in the history of the destination and wants to learn about and take part in its culture,” he said.
He said the same argument applied to North Cyprus which is also becoming increasingly popular.
Koc’s warning came as the operator launch its 2006 brochure featuring an expanded range of niche products.
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