Considering the geographic location, the common history and culture on both sides of the Aegean Sea, high tourism potential and their peoples’ hospitality Greece and Turkey are two neighbor countries that may develop a successful cooperation in the field of tourism. To improve the cooperation opportunities creation and continuation of a confidence atmosphere between two countries’ entrepreneurs will play a vital role. We personally believe that as tourism investors we will become pioneers to realize such an atmosphere…
Considering the geographic location, the common history and culture on both sides of the Aegean Sea, high tourism potential and their peoples’ hospitality Greece and Turkey are two neighbor countries that may develop a successful cooperation in the field of tourism.
To improve the cooperation opportunities creation and continuation of a confidence atmosphere between two countries’ entrepreneurs will play a vital role. We personally believe that as tourism investors we will become pioneers to realize such an atmosphere. The cooperation proposals can be summarized as follows:
-Holiday packages with two or multi centers
Our preceding topic should be the mutual development of tourism between two countries. We think we will achieve successful results in the short term. We can produce common and attractive tour packages having two parts and market them to main tourism spending countries. These packages including sea and yachting tourism or cultural tours may consist of two weeks, one week for each part. Sea / yachting tourism and cultural tours are the ones coming first to mind.
Although the tourism potential of both countries is very rich, it is, to a great extent, limited with sea and sun concept and low budget holidays of mass tourism that causes intense seasonality. As seen in the below table tourist arrivals are concentrated in six months between April and September with a share of 70 % for Turkey and 80 % for Greece.
Quarterly percentage distribution of tourist arrival seasonalitiy in Turkey and Greece is as follows:
January-March
Turkey: 10,8
Greece: 5,8
April-June
Turkey: 26,7
Greece: 30,1
July-September
Turkey: 41,4
Greece: 51,5
October-December
Turkey: 21,1
Greece: 12,6
To expand the tourism season new products should be developed. In this context both countries need new investments on supporting tourism infrastructure (transports, conference centers, golf courses, marinas, thermal centers, etc). Supporting infrastructure is of major importance to the quality of tourist attracted, the leveraging of seasonality and in general the tourism performance of destinations. At this stage cooperation between two countries’ airlines is important. Mutual airline courses should be increased.
Congress and Incentive Tourism is a very suitable tourism type for cooperation. Organizing bilateral meetings of tourism journalists will contribute the tourism movement. Another important point is to create the concept of the East Mediterranean Tourism that will include Greece, Turkey, Israel and Egypt and to prepare tour packages for this destination with multi centers.
– Joint ventures opportunities
We should work on conditions of tourism joint ventures in both countries. For this purpose there is need for a mutual communication system supplying reliable information on tourism statistics and investment procedure. The vast tourism potential of Turkey and Greece still has plenty of place for progress. Certain regions of the countries and certain segments of the sector are still in need of significant investment and development. For example, Turkey sets 1 million bed capacity goal at international level for 2010. The present capacity in operation is 550 thousand beds. 250 thousand beds are at investment or project stage. There are 300 thousand beds in operation which are rather lower quality and licenced by municipalities. They need upgrading with modernization investments. So, some 150 thousand beds are expected to be newly produced to reach 1 million beds of international standards. In addition to accommodation establishments, supporting tourism infrastructure (golf, entertainment, aquapark, sports, shopping, conference) are planned to be built. All these superstructure investments which are targeted to be in service by 2010 need 8,5 billion $ expenditure.
– Environment projects
As well known, environment protection is one of the crucial points for sustainable tourism. Tourism and environment are inseparable components, also for the Aegean Tourism. Environment problems on the Aegean Sea need to be examined in two parts.
Coast and Sea Water Protection: It is important to create an environment consciousness among local population, tourism staff and tourists. For this purpose we have to improve Blue Flag campaigns in both countries. Furthermore, public and local authorities should educate population on the environment protection. In this context, measures should be augmented against yachts and other boats which cause coast dirtiness. We can create common projects on quality destination in some selected tourism centers. To prevent dirty water coming from the Black Sea, a common pressure should be made on governments. Culture fishery near tourism centers is another factor causing water pollution. Public authorities also need to be warned to take necessary measures. In the future we can together build fish farm on open sea.
– Protection of cultural heritage
For mutual protection of cultural heritage we should strengthen lobbying activities on governments. We should not forget that wise usage is the best protection. In this context we can give following exaples:
Ottoman works in Greece
Greek works in Turkey
Ihlara-Cappadocia
Kayakoy in Fethiye
Eastern Black Sea Region
A common pilot project on environment protection can be developed and EU funds can be used for this project.
– Sea Tourism
There is need to develop a common cruiser tourism on the Aegean Sea. For this purpose cruiser organizers from both sides should come together. Yachting tours called “Blue Voyage” may be developed on Turkish and Greek coasts. These yachting tours may olso include Albania and Croatia.
– Cooperation between tourism centers facing each other on the Aegean Sea
The tourism centers on the Aegean Sea that face each other will take great advantage from cooperation. These centers are:
Lesvos-Ayvalik
Chios-Cesme
Samos-Kusadasi
Rhodes-Marmaris
Meis-Kas
– Cooperation on the basis of organizations
Presently, there are works on the development of tourism between two countries being implemented by public and private sector institutions, as well as by the non-governmental organizations. We can develop joint venture projects in third countries, especially in Black Sea countries. For this purpose, we can benefit from the funds of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank.
Number of Greek tourists to Turkey
2005 584.,840
2006 413,162
2007 447,950
2008 434,143 (01.10.2008)
Tatiana is the news co-ordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy. She holds a Bachelor degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
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