Here’s the latest Turkey tourism news round up by Oceanwide Properties News. The articles below are pieces we have found of interest in the press and social media over the last 2 weeks.
Clocks in Turkey continuing with daylight savings again this year (Daily Sabah 28th September 2017) Deputy PM Bekir Bozdag announced that the clocks in Turkey are staying put again this winter meaning it will again put us 3 hours ahead of the UK until March. Be prepared for some confusion re transfers, flights and timings and do double check all travel arrangements you may have.
Halal Tourism on the up in Turkey (Financial Times 28th September 2017) The UN World Tourism Associations latest statistics show that Turkey is attracting a growing number of visitors and halal concept holidaymakers from the Middle East. The Turkish Consulate suggests there is already a 26 percent increase in arrivals from the Gulf compared with last year. The FT report questions if a ‘halal’ accreditation system should be adopted in Turkey that would rate the hotels, agencies, catering, transport and religious facilities of those employing the concept. The FT article describes Turkey as the most established country to provide ‘Muslim beach resorts’. It says that halal tourism is a high growth market and one sure to expand in Turkey.
Brit who returned ancient urn to Turkey is praised by the Culture Minister. (Euro News 27th September)Thelma Bishop, a lady from Stockport who bought an urn as a souvenir from a street trader during a visit to Ephesus in the 1960’s, was given a hero’s welcome by Culture Minister, Numan Kurtulmus recently. Thinking of selling the urn that had sat in her home for more than 40 years, Thelma had it valued only to discover that it was a priceless piece of Turkish cultural heritage dating back to the Bronze Age. On hearing this she organised for the piece to be returned. To say thanks, the Culture Ministry organised a week-long holiday for Thelma including a trip to meet Kurtulmus and receive gifts and the opportunity to see the urn on display in Ankara’s Museum of Anatolian Civilisations.
Turkish Airlines receive a 5 Star global award (Daily Sabah 26th September 2017) Turkish Airlines proudly announced that they had received a 5 Star award for passenger comfort and experience from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). This is the latest in a long line of prestigious awards the airline has won including awards for comfort, catering and private passenger lounges. Turkey really does have a wonderful national airline.
Museum to open at Troy and archaeologists may be a step closer to linking the site with the great war in the Iliad (Guardian 26th September 2017) The chief archaeologist at Troy, Rustem Aslan, is confident that the sites latest excavation area beyond the southern gate of the ruins holds important clues finally linking Troy with the great war scene depicted in Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey. The Guardians report discusses findings to date and the hopes for the next phase as well as the excitement over the opening of Troy’s museum next year.
Property sales to foreigners soar in September (Hurriyet Daily News 25th September 2017) Latest figures from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) shows the Turkish property market is continuing to flourish with an 11.4 percent year on year increase in sales to foreigners during August. A total of 1,684 homes were sold to foreign nationals with Iraqis and Saudis purchasing the most. Sales to Kuwaitis, Russians and Afghans also fared well. Istanbul again saw the most sales followed by Ankara and Izmir.
New UK Ambassador for Turkey (UK Foreign Office. 18th September 2017) In a press release from the UK Foreign Office, it was announced that the role of Her Majesty’s UK Ambassador for Turkey is changing hands from January 2018. Dominik Chilcott CMG will take over from Richard Moore CMG. Dominick, who is married with 4 children, has had a lengthy career spanning much of the world with the last 4 years spent as Her Majesty’s Ambassador in Dublin.
12 Million square meter Tourism City on the cards for Bodrum (Hurriyet Daily News 15th September 2017) Turkish construction giant Agaoglu Group announced that they have secured a letter of intent with investors from Hong Kong and China to build a massive 12 million square meter Tourism City near Bodrum. It will be Europes largest purpose-built tourist city and include golf courses, hotels, offices, shopping malls, university campus, technopark, health facilities and private properties. This project is expected to boost tourism considerably as well as provide thousands of jobs and strengthen ties between China and Turkey.
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