28.01.2020 İstanbul
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, urging the government to support the spread of global brand hotel investments to Anatolia, said at the Tourism Investment Forum, “Because foreign tourists, especially foreign tourists with high spending potential, are looking for such hotels and going to places where these hotels are located.” The TOBB President stressed that the quality and beauty of hotels in Turkey, the service capacity of those who work here is not found in other countries.
The
two-day Tourism Investment Forum in Istanbul was opened at Raffles Istanbul
Hotel with the participation of TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and T.R.
Presidential Strategy and Budget Chairman Naci Ağbal.
TOBB
President Hisarcıklıoğlu said in his speech that the Turkish Tourism Investors
Association has been carrying out successful activities for 30 years with its
mission to improve the country's tourism, “TTYD members have also been the
architects of the growth of the tourism sector and its transformation into a
star sector with investments reaching $60 billion. As the president of the
Turkish business world, I am proud of them and congratulate them all individually.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that Turkish Airlines is the airline that flies to the most countries in
the world and the most international destinations, thus accessing it from 126
countries and 318 world cities. Hisarcıklıoğlu said of the opportunities Turkey
has: “Turkey is not just about sea, sun and sand. From summer tourism to winter sports, nature,
culture, faith, sports, health and congress tourism, there are all kinds of
tourism here. This geography is also a great treasure of history.
Many
civilizations were born in this land. That's where the first money was printed.
Trade, banking and the stock market first appeared in these lands. Almost all
of the first civilizations are here.
Hittites,
the first superpower of antiquity, was in this land. Troy, Rome, Byzantines are
here. The Seljuks and Ottomans were here. Is there another geography in the
world that has so many different cultures? 20 years ago in Turkey, the number
of UNESCO world heritage sites was only 7. Today, that number has reached 18.
Apart from these, we also have 78 pieces of natural and cultural value on the
list of provisional candidates. Moreover, new discoveries are still being made.
Here is Göbeklitepe, the first human settlement. It's called the zero point of
history with a 12,000-year history. I would like to express extreme pride that
we as TOBB have also taken part in the preservation and promotion of these
works.
For
example, TOBB did all the maintenance and restoration of 4.5 centuries old
Edirne Selimiye Mosque and Complex. And we will maintain it. Again, we
introduced Göbeklitepe to the European Parliament and the public in Brussels.”
- Hisarcıklıoğlu speaks about TOBB
Hisarcıklıoğlu
also gave information about TOBB, “TOBB is the largest professional
organization in Turkey where all companies are members. Every domestic and
foreign company from all sectors is our member.
We
accept and support every company established and operating in our country as an
asset of our country. We also help international companies operating in our
country and defend their rights and law.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
underlined that they have a wide network abroad as TOBB, and said that they are
in the managements of all business organizations between the Atlantic and the
Pacific. Hisarcıklıoğlu, “As TOBB, we see tourism as the golden sector of our
country. Because in terms of both foreign exchange revenue and the added value
it leaves, the tourism sector is by far the leader.
Therefore,
we are making a great effort for the development of Tourism in Turkey. We have
established the Turkish Tourism Council to produce solutions to the problems of
the sector. Our Tourism Council includes the largest tourism companies in
Turkey, as well as our Ministry of Tourism and other relevant public
institutions. All parties meet regularly around a single table. They address
the problems in the sector, develop solutions and offer them to the public
administration.”
Stating
that TOBB Sector Council Chairman Osman Ayık and TTYD Chairman, Deputy Council Chairwoman
Oya Narin have worked hard, contributing to the solutions on a variety of
issues including tourism VAT rate reductions, financial support to agencies,
facilities to be included in the scope of credit guarantee fund, adequate pay problem,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they always stand with the tourism sector as a
community.
- High-spending tourists looking
for brand hotels
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said: “Thanks to TOBB's work, many important reforms have been made to improve
the business and investment environment. It's going to take a long time if I
try to tell you one by one. But to put it simply, bureaucracy and procedures
have been reduced in access to finance, taxes and customs, construction permits
and deed operations. Issues are going to be resolved much faster. So in the
World Bank's Doing Business Index, we've risen 17 places in just two years. For
the first time in our history, we've risen to 33rd rank. Now our
goal is to get into the top 20. For this reason, we started a busy shift with
public institutions. Our Union's contribution to the real sector and Turkish
tourism will continue to increase. At this point, we see the benefit of our government
in supporting an issue.
We
need to ensure that hotel investments which have become global brands spread to
Anatolia. Because foreign tourists, especially foreign tourists with high
spending potential, are looking for such hotels and going to places where these
hotels are located. I'd like to share an experience with you. I am Vice President
of EUROCHAMBRES, the largest umbrella organization for the European business
world. I've seen every country in Europe, I've stayed in many facilities. I say
this with open heart and conviction: I could not find the quality, beauty and
service capacity of the hotels in Turkey in any other country.”