Question - Answer Part [29.06.2006]
Question: You stressed on the subject of evaluating idle capacity for Turkey. I wonder in this sphere the public camps will be regained as an idle capacity to Turkish tourism?
Esteemed Prime Minister: Yes, at the moment whether under the control of Treasury and under the commission of our Ministries or Public, all these camps and the places that are excluding these camps will be allowed for this. And we are making the plans of this. Everything in anywhere that have relations with these evaluated and allowed. The only exceptions are the ones that belong to ruling.
Question: (Yavuz Çizmeci General Directorate of MNG Airlines) As a friend of you who is working in this sector more then 20 years I want to say few words about the picture that you drew, the targets that you put are whether factitious or not and I want to underline a subject about civil aviation. It is not really a dream that in the year of 2010 the number of foreign tourist will rise to 30 million from 15 million. Especially with your positive energy and believe. Believe that the ones that are working in this sector in the branch of civil aviation, agent, hotel business for many years with their mistakes and missing, they can reached that number to 15 million. If in a year we can continue our tempo with the rising of seven percent in 2010 we will reached to 30 million people. This is certain. By the way, in the picture you underline, it is predicted that the bed capacity will be twice naturally the flight seat number should be raised two or times of today. I want to underline this subject. I think that this subject should be analyzed under your Leadership, by Cabinet and our Ministry. Because civil aviation is the locomotive sector that will bring Turkish Tourism in those points that you mention. And this sector came to this point without any substantiate and support, despite these mistakes and wrong administrations today we have 75 airplanes. Now private sector has 75 airplanes in civil aviation. If we add our 65 airplanes to Turkish Airlines’ we have 140 airplanes. We have to carry 15 million added people to reach the number of 30 million you mentioned. And this means approximately 300 planes. We need additional 300 flying squadrons. I find it very important that this subject should be considered carefully and developed under your leadership with the strict coordination of especially Ministry of Culture and Tourism, ministry of Transportation and Ministry of Finance. I repeat my wishes for that our dream would be good for all of us. I want you to know that this community starts this with these hopes. I hope after 7 years, we would all see these aims.
H.E. Prime Minister: as you know, we exceeded the home market in the field of civil aviation. Besides this, we made a reduction in the expenses of airports and abandoned the taxes. Furthermore, at present as Turkish Airlines it is decided to restore the squadron, it is being restored and in three years our first aim is to reach the number of 80 planes and for this Administration of Turkish Airlines has started the studies of it rapidly. I believe that, it also brings a different competition. Of course we will try to reach the numbers you mentioned. All these; the increase of dynamism at an economic point, existing economic situation that we take over on 3 November, decrease in these difficulties, we will try to reflect these to private sector. We are also complaining from the tax conception in the country. We will decrease these taxes everyday passing, we will decisive in this. But if we attempt to do this in a snap, we demolish the financial discipline, the structure of our economy and our program then it will be impossible for us to reach these aims. We are going to do this by and by. You see which levels we came in inflation and interest this year, we decrease to 23. we came to good levels in stock market. It makes the best in its history. We will reach to better levels. The workers of stock market now have to think everything more carefully. These are the signals of a good going and good developments, we will surpass. I will believe this.
Question: My Honorable Prime Minister, you introduced very important goals for 2010. An investment of 25 billion$ is anticipated in this period. I wonder if these are proportional to the target of EU? In other words, a period of taking date is envisaged and then in 10 years period, a membership perspective is anticipated for Turkey. If there was a breakdown in this subject, would there a deviation from your goals? Of course you think the foreign capital investment in the context of this 25 billion$. If there was a breakdown in it would there be a plan B?
Esteemed Prime Minister: The process of European Union is not important for Turkey in this subject because Turkish Tourism is integrated with European Union Countries. Anyhow this is the demand of European Union Countries. In addition to European Union Countries it is possible to integrate with other countries. And it is related by the bounce in Tourism everyday. Every passing day is a pole in this item. First of all Turkey will multiply geometrically this understanding by diversification in tourism and spreading in every season. And the time when it multiplied we will find these targets. In anyway the direct foreign capital wants to take part in also tourism in Turkey. We personally hear these from the negotiations in different countries that we participate. Our friends that are interested on tourism have serious contacts with these chains. This bounce will happen.
Question: The projects that you told us are not dependent on only central administration but also workings of local administrations. For about one year Tourism City Directorates are executing by acts. Do you have any action on that?
Esteemed Prime Minister: You know that we are restructuring the low of organization of The Culture and Tourism Ministry. The legislation was enacted in mid 2003 so that there were some problems in designations. And now these are appointing very rapidly in a short time these will finish, it is not a problem.
Question: ( Tourism Newspaper, Fehmi Köfteoğlu. ) The usage of the 100 trillion source for Istanbul will be use by Ministry of Tourism or Private administrations, Foundations or Prime Ministry?
Esteemed Prime Minister: All these investments will continue under the control of Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Esteemed Minister: As we are Ministry of Culture and Tourism we are not starting the progress of investments by give out by contracts directly to us. Especially the main projection in the project of the preservation of assets is this, together with local administrations, municipalities and city private administrations, by the leadership of city private administrations and under the control of our Ministry, and with the participation of civil public companies and universities we are executing a common progress. We work together with the non-governmental organizations and the universities. The Fund that will be a part of the Ministry's budget but will be used by the local government.
Question: (Golf Newspaper, Binnaz Naröy) I didn't find any clear information about how much golf area will be made in this Istanbul Project. Could we get any information about this? In addition to this, how much golf area will be made in which regions and when will they be finished?
Minister: You mentioned very technical details but we have already been ready to this kind of questions. We have been planning the new golf areas in the Anatolian side of Istanbul and the regions close to Black Sea cost. Although this wasn't concluded, the planned projects will start in Tarsus, in Antalya (Belek and Kemer), in Bodrum, in Dalaman and in Sarıgerme in the year of 2004.
Question: As I understand, you have such an idea regarding to converting the public social areas to the new tourism areas. There is also a problem that emerged during the recent days about the social establishing of Istanbul University. Could we learn that what will you do concerning to this matter for the next period?
Prime Minister: All the establishments of public institutions will rearrange.
Minister: If you let me and the Prime Minister also let me, we as a government in a new period of intensive workings about the domestic tourism. Within this framework, we want to reorganize the permit system of civil servants. Thus the establishing capacity of Turkish tourism will be productively used by the Turkish citizens and civil servants and the prices will be fairer for them.
Question: There is not a place of tourism on cruise in your agenda for the future. Turkey does not have a ship.
Mr. Prime Minister: The tourism on cruise multiplied 100%. For instance, the number of 2002, which was 300, increased to 600 in 2003.
Question: Dear Prime Minister, I want to mention that we do not have a ship; we do not have ship with Turkish flag.
Mr. Prime Minister: This is your business. Do you expect this business to be done by the State? We will not get involved in such issues any more. We will encourage you. There is no problem on this point. And another point is, USA does not only worn Turkey but also the other countries about what you mentioned. This is the same for the countries all over the world. As you know England had been doing the same thing but now they do not anymore. There are also other countries putting such barriers. After the negotiations we have agreed cancel them. I think that on our visit to U.S.A. at the end of this month we will have the chance to discuss these issues with The President and other interested parties. I hope we will also bring to a conclusion.
Question: I want to mention one final point about visas. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs acting on the basis of reciprocity clause is putting obstacles about visa issues. This is one of main problems our operators are dealing with. They wanted me to underline this subject. I request you to facilitate visa procedures which are a must. In terms of touristic potential we have a great loss because of the difficulties about visas.
Mr. Prime Minister: Could you make your point clear?
Question: I mean coming from abroad to Turkey. For instance, especially from Czech Republic, Hungary and other countries. Our Consulates locating in only one city makes visa procedures difficult.
Mr. Prime Minister: What you have just mentioned is a truth but you also have to consider subtle points about it. The exterior view and the reality inside differs. and The view chances We are doing our best to facilitate these procedures and we will pay attention to the subtle points.
Source: http://www.turizm.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx? 17A16AE30572D31371BE64510F6C8BC9322C86428DE90FD3
