Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Turkey Hoteliers Federation (TÜROFED) 4^th General Assembly Meeting was held in Antalya with the attendances of Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, TOBB Board Vice President Çetin Osman Budak, TÜROFED Board President Osman Ayık and many representatives of the tourism sector.

In his speech, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that the number of tourists visiting the country had increased by 120 times in the last 30 years.

“Thirty years ago, we only had a thousandth of the global tourism market while we now take a share of 3.5%. We’ve increased our tourist figures by 60 times, rivaling the world; we are the apple of the world’s eye with 358 blue banner establishments; we generate 31 billion USD; we employ 1 million people annually; 10% of Turkey’s growth comes from tourism.

The tourism sector is the golden egg laying goose. Fed well enough, it will provide a lifetime’s worth of gold. We must give tourism its due. We must put more importance on tourism as a country. The coastal boundary legislation is very important in this regard.

There are too many institutions with authority over this. We want there to be a single authority on this matter. It should be the Ministry of Tourism. Provide us with support in the winter and we will keep on our employees. We are forced to employ foreign labor. We require the ministry’s assistance in this matter.”

Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik stated that the sector is not so simple as to be able to be administered to completely by a single institution. He went on to state that TOBB should set aside a budget equal to that of the Ministry in regards to the promotion of Turkey.

TÜROFED Board President Osman Ayık stated that they have been able to progress rapidly thanks to Turkish hospitality, and that the level of services rendered has almost caught up with that of Spain.

After the speeches, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and TÜROFED Board President Osman Ayık presented Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik with a commemorative plaque.