Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Its hotel capacity of 250,000 is the highest in Turkey. It hosts a third of all tourists visiting Antalya. It creates an added value of 4.5 billion USD annually. Manavgat, by itself, offsets Turkey’s current deficit by 4.5 billion USD.”

The foundation laying ceremony of the Tourism Faculty which will be built by the Manavgat Chamber of Commerce and Industry was held with the attendance of many politicians.

The foundation laying ceremony of the Tourism Faculty which will be built by the Manavgat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MATSO) was attended by Minister of State Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Minister of Culture and Tourism Abdurrahman Arıcı, Antalya CHP MPs Deniz Baykal, Çetin Osman Budak and Niyazi Nefi Kara, AKP MP Mustafa Köse, MHP MP Tarkan Akıllı, Mediterranean University Rector Prof. Dr. İsrafil Kurtcephe, Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO) Chair Davut Çetin, ATB Chair Ali Çandır, civil society organization chairpersons and many guests.

- No risk investing in education

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Manavgat is the heart of tourism. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Manavgat Chamber of Commerce and Industry has made the sacrifice to build the Tourism Faculty which will be handed over to the Mediterranean University once complete. Stating that every investment has risks unique to itself, Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that education is the exception; it is investment into the future, the city and the country. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that tourism is, in essence, Turkey’s largest exporting sector.

- Other speakers

Minister of State Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu expressed gratitude to those who’ve contributed to education and the future of children with this endeavor.

CHP MP Deniz Baykal stated that this would be a historic beginning for both Manavgat and Turkey as well its academia.

Manavgat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chair Ahmet Boztaş stated that Manavgat requires two more faculties in order to establish its own university and urged philanthropists to aid in reaching this goal.

Manavgat Mayor Şükrü Sözen, MHP MP Tarkan Akıllı and Mediterranean University Rector Prof. Dr. İsrafil Kurtcephe also gave speeches, followed by a prayer by the Manavgat Mufti Hasan Hayri Yaşar.