Turkey gets downmarket operator warning
Tuesday, 16 Dec, 2009
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A warning has gone out about opportunistic “bottom end of the market” operators climbing on the bandwagon of Turkey’s current success.
The caution came from the boss of specialist operator Anatolian Sky.
Managing director Akin Koc is concerned that poor quality holidays on offer next year will spoil the image of the country and hamper its future development as a quality mainstream holiday destination.
“These low end of the market operators have no concern about the reputation of the country and simply dump cheap airline capacity and contract poor quality accommodation at £3 a night in places such as Marmaris,” he said.
“This is a well worn route that sets back a destination’s image for a long time and results in negative coverage. Turkey deserves better than that.”
He was speaking while releasing the operator’s 2010 programme, which has more tailor-made options, in a year which marks its 21st anniversary.
Anatolian Sky claimed record bookings this year with up to 60% per cent repeat business. This was attributed to Turkey’s ‘non-eurozone’ value, its emergence as a mainstream destination and support from agents who are selling the destination more actively than ever before.
Customer incentives include loyalty discounts, early booking discounts at specific hotels worth up to £500, two weeks for the price of one at a range of hotels, a Gulet cruise with a free extra week’s accommodation in a choice of hotels, a price match guarantee and free nights and half board offers.
The company is basing its tailor made tours on scheduled daily Turkish Airlines flights from London, Manchester and Birmingham to Istanbul with onward connections in Turkey for maximum flexibility.
Koc said: “The interior of Turkey is a massive living museum of 10,000 years of history, and the fact that holidaymakers now want to see more of its cultural heritage is proof of the extent to which it has matured as a destination. Tailor made tours were our biggest growth area in 2009 and we are expecting to grow again in 2010”.
Anatolian Sky has an enlarged range of hotels in North Cyprus as well as a number of private villas.
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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