Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Istanbul Workshop was held at the Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Palace with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in cooperation with ITO TÜROFED, TÜRSAB, THY, İSTTA and FVW under the leadership of TOBB. During the opening session, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Culture and Tourism Deputy Minister rare Alpaslan, Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) Chairman Şekib Avdagiç Turkey Hoteliers Federation (TUROFED) and TOBB Tourism Industry Council President Osman Ayık, Turkey Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB), Istanbul Tourism Association (İSTTA) President Halil Korkmaz, and Klaus Hildebrandt, the chief editor of the German Media Foundation FVW, addressed the participants.

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked the individuals and institutions who supported the organization while emphasizing its importance. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Being one of the oldest cities in world history, Istanbul is the only city in the world that has been the capital of three great empires and spanning two continents. In Istanbul, you will see traces of Egypt, Rome, Athens, Jerusalem, Troy, Babylon, Ephesus. Istanbul is a real world city with traces of all civilizations.”

Stating that TOBB is the largest professional organization in Turkey with memberships of all companies from all sectors; both domestic and foreign, Hisarcıklıoğlu explained that they consider every company established and operating in the country is an asset and support as such. The TOBB President stated that they have a wide network. “We are party to, or in the management of all business organizations between the Atlantic and the Pacific. We have very deep economic relations with our largest trading partner, Germany and the German business community. We have established the German-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Industry together with the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), Germany's largest business organization. This includes the leading tourism companies in Germany and Turkey. We are helping German companies operating in our country; we defend their rights. We're in a great effort for the development of tourism in Turkey. In order to produce solutions to the problems encountered in Turkey, we established the Tourism Sector Council. Taking part in the Tourism Council, are not only Turkey's largest tourism company but also representatives of the Tourism Ministry and other relevant public agencies. All parties come together regularly around the same table. They deal with the problems in the sector, develop solutions and present them to the public administration.

Taking charge of the Sector Council as Chairman is Mr. Osman Ayık, who is also the President of TÜROFED. The Tourism Sector Council has provided many important services such as lowering the VAT rates in tourism, providing support to agencies, and insuring that hotels are included within the scope of the credit guarantee fund. Additionally, we have always supported and supported the tourism sector with our channels of commerce in every city. Most recently, we have undertaken the organization of the Turkey Festival in Moscow. Now, with you here, we’ve convened to discuss how we increase Turkey's share in the overseas travel market in Germany. The contribution of our Union to Turkish tourism will continue in the future.”

- “Turkey is not just sun, sea and sand.”

Stating that the tourism sector is a success story for Turkey worldwide, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that Turkey is not just sea, sun and sand. “History and culture are here. Many of the first civilizations were born in these lands.” Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that the first money was printed here; trade, banking and commodity exchanges emerged here first. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Rome and Byzantium were here. The Seljuks, the Ottomans were here. Is there another country which has a such a rich history with a myriad of unique cultures in the world? For all these reasons, we make no distinction about protecting historical assets in Turkey. In any period, from civilization, culture, faith; we consider all of them to be the inheritance of humanity entrusted to us.  20 years ago in Turkey, the number of areas covered by the UNESCO list of world heritage was only 7. Today this number has reached 17.

I would like to proudly express that we, as TOBB, have undertaken all the care and restoration of the Edirne Selimiye Mosque and its surrounding complex as an example. Apart from these, there are also 78 temporary and nominal candidates of natural and cultural value for the UNESCO list. This is the greatest opportunity for us to introduce all of our universal values ​​to the world.”

- The quality of the facilities in Turkey are found nowhere else

Stating that Germany has always been important for Turkey’s tourism and the among first 3 countries sending tourists, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu lamented that in the last few years, Germany's share in the number of foreign tourists visiting the country has declined to 10% from 16%. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We are still behind the 5.6 million German tourists per year at which we peaked in 2015. The number of German tourists last year was 3.6 million. As of the first half of this year, there has been a 22% increase compared to last year, which is pleasing. Now, how we can protect and increase this trend? We will talk and evaluate this with you who are the main experts in the business.”

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, pointing out that he has seen and stayed in every country in Europe, that in regards to the hotel of quality and the service capacity in Turkey are found in no other country.”

- Culture and Tourism Deputy Minister Nadir Alpaslan

Nadir Alpaslan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, said in his speech, “Germany is extremely important for us, especially in terms of other sectors of our economy, but especially for tourism.”

Alpaslan stated that the tourism sector is a very sensitive sector affected by factors other than itself and that Turkey, experiencing positive development following recent troubles, has attained a 25% Turkey's improvement in tourism compared to the previous year.

- Governor of Istanbul Vasip Şahin

Istanbul Governor Vasip Şahin stated that they regard Istanbul as their charge from history and civilizations and said, “We are sensitive to our role as protector. At times we may have come short of what İstanbul deserves in execution but it is necessary to admit this in order to improve. In any case Istanbul is a beautiful city.”

Şahin emphasized that the third airport is an important infrastructure investment in meeting existing as well as future needs, stated that Istanbul will become even more important as a meeting point when the opening takes place.

- FVW Editor-in-Chief Klaus Hildebrandt

Klaus Hildebrandt, FVW Editor-in-Chief, pointed out that Istanbul is a city with great potential, “But in terms of German tourists, I do not think it has reached its potential. Tourism brings people, nations and countries together. That is why we are here.”

- TÜRSAB President Firuz Bağlıkaya

TÜRSAB President Firuz stated that tourism plays an important role in keeping the level of Turkish-German relations at a level that is worthy of the two countries and said, “Approximately 3 million Turkish citizens living in Germany are the architects of historical and cultural ties between the two countries. Tourism flows constitute an important base. Among the most important tourism markets for Turkey in 2017, we hosted 3.6 million tourists from Germany. This year, the number of our German guests we have hosted so far in the first 7 months of the year has increased by 20% compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching 2.3 million. I hope that at the end of the year, we will have the happiness of having welcomed approximately 4.5 million German guest in our country. Of the foreign guests visiting Istanbul, German citizens are in the first place.”