27.08.2015 Antalya
Attending the foundation laying ceremony of the Tourism Faculty which will be built by the Manavgat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that Manavgat’s tourism potential offsets the current deficit by 4.5 billion USD.
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.