Travel agencies in Turkey are under serious attack from local tourism officials. This statement was made by the head of the Association of Travel Agencies TÜRSAB Firuz Baglikaya in the program TÜRSAB Agenda on TÜRSAB TV. Local media called the statement “impressive.”
“We have a minister who says that travel agencies are not needed. He does not consider travel agents as a profession – and this is the root of the problem,” said the head of TÜRSAB. And he directly clarified that it does not mean anyone, but directly the Minister of Tourism of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy. “We are living in a very difficult period and are under serious attack – both we and our profession. The bread of our colleagues is being attacked. The Minister of Culture and Tourism opposes travel agencies at every opportunity,” said Mr. Baglykaya.
He cited several “cloth-covered” initiatives, including issues agreed with the Ministry of Transport on tours and transfers, and a protocol between the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Transport, and others.
“If our colleagues have problems with earning a living, and their usual income is trying to somehow take away from them, does not it mean that our profession is at risk? Travel agencies cannot get to the airport – the civil aviation agency does not allow travel agencies to the state airport,” he said. He also reminded of property scandals, when associations of travel agencies are evicted from their premises, renting them out to third parties.
“The Ministry of Tourism not only does not help us, but also reduces our income from everywhere. There is no tourism without a travel agency. We cannot explain this to our officials, but we must say so. If we do not explain the importance of travel agencies and tour operators, if we do not say that it is the tourists brought by travel agencies and tour operators who close the current account deficit of this country, if we do not explain our contribution to the economy and employment, no one will. Officials have a picture in their heads that travel agencies do nothing, hotels bring all tourists themselves, and planes fill up on their own. This means that you know nothing about tourism,” said the outraged head of TÜRSAB
He also added that they do not intend to give up without a fight in the association: “After all, we are a trade union affiliated with ministries. I am fighting to protect the rights of every member of our association,” said Mr. Baglykaya.