Turkey to play key role in cruise tourism

The annual average number of cruise travelers from the United States to Turkey is about 11 million, while the annual average number of those from Europe is about three million.

The annual average number of cruise travelers from the United States to Turkey is about 11 million, while the annual average number of those from Europe is about three million.

Cruise travelers bored with typical Caribbean cruises have turned their eyes to Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean voyages, creating a recent trend in cruise tourism that may prove a great benefit to Turkey.

โ€œCruise tourism is expected to expand in the Black Sea countries; so Turkey’s geographical position is highly important in this context. If she can make use of that chance Istanbul might play the key role in cruise tourism in the Black Sea,โ€ said Artun ร‡aฤŸlayan, secretary general of the Turkish Maritime Tourism Association.

Although Greece has also opened its ports to cruise tourism, many prominent cruise companies in the world have chosen Turkey’s major port city Istanbul as a homeport, said ร‡aฤŸlayan.

The annual average number of cruise travelers from the United States to Turkey is about 11 million, while the annual average number of those from Europe is about three million, said ร‡aฤŸlayan. The target audience in cruise tourism is mostly middle-aged tourists from upper income groups, he added.

โ€œHoliday goers have long been โ€˜bored’ of seeing the Caribbean islands and the Mediterranean. That is the reason why most of the cruise companies are now planning to organize tours in new seas, that is to say the Black Sea and the eastern Mediterranean,โ€ said ร‡aฤŸlayan.

Istanbul to play key role

Yacht tourism has a major role in the development of cruise tourism in Black Sea countries. Some small cruise ships will start touring in the Black Sea this year, said ร‡aฤŸlayan, adding that Istanbul is expected to play a key role. โ€œTherefore, the key to the Black Sea is in the hands of Turkey,โ€ he said.

โ€œPeople from different countries will land at the Atatรผrk Airport in Istanbul. After they spend a couple of days in this city, they will get on the cruise ships and start touring the Black Sea. Setting sail from Turkish shores, they might even reach Sochi (a city in south Russia),โ€ he said. Istanbul and Turkey in general can, therefore, play a crucial role in the newly developing cruise tourism industry in the Black Sea, he added, noting that seven prominent cruise companies are likely to choose Istanbul as their homeport for these trips. He said ports can also be built in ฤฐzmir and in the popular Aegean resort towns KuลŸadasฤฑ and Didim.

turkishdailynews.com.tr

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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