Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) attended the world’s largest tourism fair ITB Berlin to boost the tourism capacity for Türkiye. During the organization held between March 9-12, TGA presented new projects and campaigns to promote the unique beauty of Turkey and shared the details of the “Safe Tourism Certificate Program” which launched last year to provide a safe holiday opportunity under the pandemic conditions.
Organizing a press conference at the ITB Berlin Fair with the spokesperson,Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) Board Member Erkan Yağcı, TGA explained its prominent activities for 2020. Highlighting the fact that 2020 was a tough year for the industry, Yağcı said “We have completed this challenging year with good results thanks to our ‘Safe Tourism Certificate Program’ which is among the firsts in the world. The Safe Tourism Certificate Program prepared in a very short time and launched in June 2020 and quickly received a response in the tourism sector. As a result of all the precautions taken and meticulously conducted audits, the ‘Safe Tourism Certificate Program’ has gained the trust of international decision makers and thus, millions of travel lovers, especially from main markets such as England, Russia and Germany. With the support of advertising and promotional activities, which we continued unabated in our target markets throughout the year, approximately 16 million travel lovers visited our country and they safely spent their holidays.
Turkey will contiune to invest in “Safe Tourism Certification Program”
We will continue to invest in the “Safe Tourism Certification Program” and expand its scope. Program covers all necessary measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for vacationers in all stages of travel. Yağcı said “While initiating the “Safe Tourism Certification Program”, we did not make a distinction between summer and winter tourism and we planned to make this practice permanent. We have expanded the scope of the practice and made it compulsory for accommodation facilities with 30 or more rooms. Up to now more than 8.000 facilities were certified.”
“It has been one of the first and most successful examples in the world in this field. Safe Tourism Certification Program offered travel lovers the confidence they needed. Therefore, the Safe Tourism Certificate will continue to be decisive for both domestic and foreign tourists for the next season and to differentiate and highlight our country in the field of tourism.” Yağcı added.
Turkey also introduced a health insurance system with COVID-19 coverage for travelers. Tourist Protection and Support Insurance covers all aspects of the journey from the aircraft to the airport, transfers and hotels.
We expect a fast recovery in tourism industry
Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) Board Member Erkan Yağcı stated that “Tourism has been the most rapidly-downsizing industry in times of crisis, but it is also the one that will rise the fastest. We are expecting a V-shaped recovery in touristic travels. The capacity and frequency of flights, travel restriction policies of countries, quarantine practices, travel habits of the guests during the covid-19 period and the spread of the vaccine will be the most important factors for travellers to decide when they plan teir next trip”
Yağcı said “We have taken very serious steps in terms of product diversity as well. “Turkey is not only sun, sand and sea. This combo is, of course, a vital source of revenue. Every region of Turkey offers very special experiences that is appealing to different audiences. Today, we have the best cycling routes, faith tourism routes, gastronomy routes in the world. We believe that Turkey will continue to outperform its competitors in the growth of the tourism industry in 2021. Our goals for 2021 is 31 million visitors and 23.3 billion dollars in revenue.”
Turkey is looking forward to welcoming its guests
Türkiye continues to be a healthy and safe tourism destination in 2021. Tourists are able to have a healthy vacation in Turkey with peace of mind with high safety standards in all areas of the industry. “We are looking forward to welcoimg our guests for this year. We are confident that Turkey will be one of the top choices as a safe travel option thanks to the ‘Safe Tourism Certificate Program’, Yağcı said.”
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