| THE Mediterranean Association of Tourist Hoteliers (AKTOB) expects the reduction of the value added tax (VAT), to be adopted in 2008, to boost the Turkish tourism industry. |
Beginning in 2008, the VAT rate for the sector will be cut down from 18 to 8 percent.
AKTOB President Osman Ayık said that the reduced VAT rate is a welcomed development after years of campaigning by the sector. It is also expected to boost tax revenues from tourism.
“The reduction will not only boost the sector, but also helps to ward off a black market,” he said.
It has been estimated that approximately 6 percent of Turkish national income is derived from tourism. However, the sector is often criticized for evading the VAT by failing to provide receipts to foreign travelers who are rarely aware of Turkish tax regulations, and therefore do not hold service providers accountable by asking for receipts.
A SECURITY guard died and four people were injured as a ferry arriving to Istanbul from Bodrum moved unexpectedly while being secured at the dock.
Thirty-year-old guard Zekeriya Timur died at the scene when the ropes securing the ferry, named Ankara, were thrown into the air by a sudden movement and struck his head, eyewitnesses reported. The accident is under investigation
Lines from the ferry, operated by Deniz Cruise and Ferry Line,s were secured to the dock by employees and passengers had begun to exit the vessel on stairs. The boat allegedly moved as about 10 passengers were on the steps.
LEADING development firm Mirax Group has taken its first step toward setting up a luxury European and North African hotel chain with the $340 million acquisition of the Sungate Port Royal Hotel in Turkey.
"We are creating a network of world-class hotels in a number of different European countries and the Sungate Port Royal Hotel is the first part of this chain," Mirax board member Maxim Temnikov said.
The Sungate Port Royal Hotel is situated in Antalya. With almost 2,000 rooms, the hotel complex, which features an aqua park, 14 swimming pools, 11 restaurants and a dolphinarium, can accommodate up to 3,000 guests.
Mirax is specifically looking to lure Russian tourists to the hotel. By the end of the year, the firm is planning to open representative Sungate Port Royal offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kiev.
THE Culture and Tourism Ministry has launched exhibitions abroad to introduce the historical values of Turkey in other countries. The five exhibitions attracted 591,237 visitors, one of which remains on display.
Orhan Düzgün, general manager of Cultural Property and Museums, said: “These exhibitions contribute to the introduction of Turkish culture in the world. Foreign visitors want to see other exhibitions which display more Turkish works of art.
“We plan to double the number of exhibitions in 2008. The exhibition opened in South Korea called “Junction Point of Ceramics Turkey: Meeting Place of East and West” is the most visited one as ceramics are one of the most valued arts in South Korea.”
The exhibition titled “Istanbul: City and Sultan” in Amsterdam was opened in the most famous square.
The exhibit “Treasures of Topkapı Palace - Excellent Ottoman Dynasty” in Tokyo's Metropolitan Museum was visited by 16,000 people in the first five days. It features
140 works of art, with 111 from Topkapı Palace and 29 from the Turkish and Islam Works Museum.
DIAMONDS from the conflict areas of Africa, brought to public attention by the movie ‘Blood Diamond,’ will no longer be allowed to be brought to Turkey. As of August 14,
Turkey has been included in the Kimberley Process Certificate Scheme, which prevents the trade in conflict diamonds.
The diamonds not perceived as ‘clean’ according to the data bank established in Belgium will not be allowed to be brought to Turkey.
THE İzmir State Symphony Orchestra (İZDSO) is preparing to perform the long-forgotten "Turkish İzmir March," composed in 1923 by German composer and conductor Kurt Striegler, in İzmir for the upcoming concert season.
After the score was lost, the march disappeared from orchestras' repertoires for more than 50 years. Now İZDSO will be the first performer of the march since its score was uncovered earlier this year as the result of a meticulous search by Dr. Mete Soytürk.
The manuscript is currently being stored in the archive of İzmir's Ahmet Piriştina Municipal Archive and Museum. The piece will be performed during the orchestra's 2007-08 season opening concert scheduled for Oct. 5.
OZLEM Adiguzel, a violinist from Izmir, has become the first Turkish musician that has joined the orchestra of world-famous La Scala Theater.
"I passed the test I had taken when I was playing in the Arena di Verona Orchestra, and joined Teatro alla Scala," Adiguzel said after she qualified. The La Scala is one of the biggest and leading theaters in Italy.
"It is enthusiastic to perform with musicians from various countries, particularly Europe. And I am proud to be the first Turkish musician playing in the theater that was established in 1778," she added.
ITALY is the most popular country for Turkish tourists when they go abroad, says ETS International Tours Director İbrahim Cenk Okumuş.
He says tourists generally choose one-week tours including Roma-Venice and Florence. He added that their company sent 200-300 people every week from June to August.
The second most popular country drawing the interest of Turkish tourists is Spain, according to Okumuş. “They want to see Barcelona and Madrid the most in Spain. Paris and central Europe tours including weekly trips to Budapest, Vienna and Prague are also popular,” he said.
Egypt and Tunisia are offered to Turkish tourists for sea-sun-sand tourism as an alternative to Antalya.
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