The International Destination Expo Istanbul

By SEYHAN KOCDAG

This year’s International Destination Expo (IDE) truly embraces the Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered) notion, stated by Julius Caesar when he defeated Pharnaces II of Pontus, a formidable kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey, which is the current city of Istanbul. Attending IDE 2010 provides you the opportunity to come, see and conquer the destination that everyone will be talking about in 2010. Turkey is a paradise of sun, sea, mountains and lakes. From history buffs and shoppers to nightlife lovers and beach seekers, Turkey has so much to offer even the most seasoned travelers will be dazzled in this historical and cultural mecca, which features an interesting blend of eastern and western traditions. With all of the rich history and culture to absorb, IDE 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey will be a non-stop learning experience.

The International Destination Expo Istanbul

The Conference Features:

1. Four days of concentrated destination specific education to enable you to become a Turkey destination specialist.

2. Networking with local companies that offer dream itineraries your clients will enjoy.

3. Complimentary Istanbul sightseeing -so you may see what your clients will experience.

4. New certifications you can add to your professional profile to attract new clients.

Please join us at the International Destination Expo in Turkey, where you will have the opportunity to become a destination specialist on Istanbul, Turkey and the surrounding areas. Be sure to check out our pre- and post-tour options to further enhance your experience at IDE 2010

Rakamlarla Kış Turizmi Ve Geliştirilmesi

GÖZDE GÜRBAŞAK

Kış turizmi için Türkiye önemli bir bölge olma özelliğini göstermektedir. Kayseri, Erzurum, Kars, Bursa, Antalya, Muğla, Kocaeli, Isparta gibi birçok ilimizde de kış turizmi yapılabilmekte ve bu örneklerin sayısı da arttırılabilmektedir. Dolayısıyla kış turizmi için Türkiye’de önemli bir potansiyel vardır ve bu potansiyelin verimli bir şekilde kullanılarak arttırılması gerekmektedir. Çünkü kış turizmiyle ilgili yeterli tesis sayısına ulaşıldığında ve bu tesisleri de yeterli donanıma ulaştırabildiğimizde;kış turizmi Türkiye’de önemli gelir kaynaklarından biri olacaktır. Günümüzde kış turizmi ile ilgili hizmet veren tesislerin yatak kapasitesi 7764’tür. Hedeflenen yatak kapasitesi ise 46.665’tir. Aynı şekilde bu tesislerin sunduğu donanımlarla ilgili verilere bakıldığında günümüzde 38 sayısını görmekteyiz. Hedeflenen rakam ise 103’tür. Rakamsal bilgilere de bakıldığında hedeflenen sayıların önemli bir yere sahip olduğunu ve eğer bu sayılara ulaşılabilirse bu sayılarla doğru orantılı olarak turizm gelirlerinde de bir artış olacağı yadsınamaz. Bu bilgilere bakılarak kış turizmi için doğal güzellikleri bozmadan tesis sayısının arttırılması Türkiye turizminde kullanamadığımız bölgeler için faydalı olacaktır.

Kış Turizmi Haritası

T.C Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığından elde edilen bilgilere göre 20 adet önemli turizm merkezimiz bulunmaktadır. Günümüzde kış turizmi yapılan merkezler koyu mavi renkle ve potansiyel yerler açık mavi renkle harita yardımıyla T.C Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı’ndan alınan harita ile yukarıda gösterilmiştir.

Yonghe Temple – The Heart Of Beijing

By CANER GUMUS

At the north-eastern side of Beijing stands China’s largest and most perfectly preserved imperial temple – The Lama Temple or Yonghe Temple. This temple was established in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty. Prince Yong used the temple as his residence and after his death, his coffin was placed in one of the halls. His successor, the Qianlong Emperor thereafter granted imperial status to the temple – which is seen by the replacing of its turquoise blue tiles with the Emperor Status yellow ones. The temple then gradually became a residence centre for Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhist monks.

The entire architecture is based along a north to south axis with 5 main halls and courtyards. Each of these halls are in succeeding height order with the last being the highest. The temple boasts of Mongolian, Manchurian, Tibetan and Han influences.

Beijing - The Lama Temple

The Hall of the Heavenly Kings marks the entrance to the other halls and contains the statues of the 4 Divine Kings. The Hall of Harmony and Peace consists of the images of the 3 Buddhas of the 3 ages – Kasyapa Matanga ( Buddha of the past), Sakyamuni (Buddha of the present), and Maitreya (Buddha of the future).

Next is the Hall of Everlasting Blessings, which the Prince Yong used as his residence. This hall now carries a green tara and white tara depiction, the former of which is unusual given its make consisting of 4000 silk pieces.

The Lamas read their sutras and hold ceremonies in the Hall Of The Dharma Wheel, which also consists of a structure of the founder of the Tibetan Buddhist Yellow Hat Sect.

The last hall, the pavilion of Infinite Happiness is the highest and the main hall. An 18 meter high statue of Maitreya Buddha carved from a single Sandalwood tree takes pride of place and is one of the artworks to be in the Guinness Book in 1993.

These are just some of the aspects of this amazing Lamaserie and the traveller would indeed be wise to explore the rest of this monastery. Being close to the subway, this temple is easily accessible. If the traveller wishes to visit this monastery at leisure, and is looking for Beijing serviced accommodation, then a service apartment in Beijing such as Somerset Grand Fortune Garden would be ideal, with its central location.

Istanbul ~ European Capital Of Culture For 2010

By SEZIN COPUR

Istanbul is now officially the 2010 European Capital of Culture. Prominent culture and art organizations of Istanbul contributed to the events realized by Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency. Istanbul 2010  European Capital of Culture Agency keeps on its promotion activities in domestics fairs. Special meeting was held Liege for introducing the 2010 European Capitals of Culture within the scope of the project “Liege /Showcase  for European Capitals of Culture”

Istanbul European Capital Of Culture For 2010

Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency ‘s tourism promotion efforts abroad.As a part of preparations for Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture, renovations initiated for general view of the  tourism information office. With the motto “it is time to rediscover,” the campaign highlights for the people of the city that Istanbul is the 2010 European Capital of Culture. The slogan “Our Energy is from Istanbul” accompanies all parts of the campaign and draws attention to the dynamic face of the city.

Upcomig Next ~ FITUR 2010

By SELDA KOCER

Being organized by IFEMA for the 30^th time,  FITUR is one of the main occasions for online hotel booking providers to meet each other. It  will take place between January 20-24, 2010. This event, organized by IFEMA, has maintained its high level of participation in relation to the previous edition, with around 11,000 companies from approximately 170 countries or regions. These companies will be occupying 75,000 square meters of net exhibition space at the Feria de Madrid.

FITUR 2010

This edition of FITUR will be attended for the first time by official representatives from countries such as Uganda, Ghana, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi from the UAE. The representatines of travel industry will be there as well as car rental companies such as Avis, Europcar and Hertz. Everyone can go along to share their experiences. There will be experts for online hotel reservation systems to discuss the new ideas and the needs of international event planners. The week-long expo is open to public, so if you are in Madrid for any reason, it’s a graet opportunity to see this convention centre.

The Benefits of Cultural Heritage Tourism

By SEVI UCAL

Cultural heritage tourism can have a tremendous economic impact on local economies. To economic benefits like new businesses, jobs and higher property values, tourism adds less tangible—but equally important—payoffs. A well-managed tourism program improves the quality of life as residents take advantage of the services and attractions tourism adds. It promotes community pride, which grows as people work together to develop a thriving tourist industry.

Cultural Tourism

An area that develops its potential for cultural heritage tourism creates new opportunities for tourists to gain an understanding of an unfamiliar place, people or time. With the arrival of visitors in turn come new opportunities for preservation. Well-interpreted sites teach visitors their importance, and by extension, the importance of preserving other such sites elsewhere.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of cultural heritage tourism is that opportunities increase for diversified economies, ways to prosper economically while holding on to the characteristics that make communities special.

Where The Florida Begins: JACKSONVILLE

By CAGLA DEMIR

Jacksonville is the largest city of state of Florida. Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida, and the twelfth most populous city in the United States.

The settlement that became Jacksonville was founded in 1791 as Cowford, so named because of its location at a narrow point in the river where cattle once crossed. In 1822, a year after the United States acquired the colony of Florida from Spain, the city was renamed for Andrew Jackson, the first military governor of the Florida Territory and who would become the seventh President of the United States (1829–1837).

A Panaromic View of Jacksonville

Beaches:From the mighty St. Johns River carving a path through the heart of Jacksonville to the endless stretch of Atlantic coastline including Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach, the waterways of Northeast Florida truly capture the essence of the Florida lifestyle. From the beaches to Downtown – water adventures are an essential piece of the puzzle that makes up Jacksonville.

Art & Culture: The Jacksonville cultural scene is rapidly growing for both residents and visitors to enjoy. From its historic multicultural and film industry roots to world-class festivals, symphonic events and Broadway productions to hip art galleries and renowned museums hosting contemporary, Renaissance and up-and-coming masterpieces, experience cultural enlightenment in Northeast Florida.

Sports: The Northeast Florida region is rich with a great sports tradition. As home of the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars, the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl and the annual Florida-Georgia football game. Besides football, Jacksonville also hosts national golf, tennis and baseball events throughout the year. Unique sporting adventures await thrill seekers with surfing, kayaking and skateboarding opportunities throughout the area.

Louvre Museum

By ERCAN KAYA

The Louvre, originally a palace but now one of the largest and most visited museums in the world, is a must-visit for anyone with a slight interest in art. Some of the museum’s most famous works of art are the Mona Lisa and the Venus of Milo.

There are about 35.000 objects on display, spread out over three wings of the former palace. The museum has a diverse collection ranging from the antiquity up to the mid 19th century. A large part of the collection consists of European paintings and sculptures. Other rooms contain Roman, Egyptian, Greek and Oriental art. There is also a section with ‘Objects d’Art’, where objects such as clocks, furniture, china and tapestries are displayed.

Louvre Museum

The most recent addition to the Louvre was the construction of the glass pyramid, which functions as the museum’s main entrance. The pyramid was built in 1989 by the renowned American architect I.M. Pei. The glass pyramid allows the sunlight to come in on the underground floor. The modern addition originally received mixed reviews, as it contrasts sharply with the classical design of the surrounding buildings, but today it is generally accepted as a clever solution which has given the museum a spacious central entrance without the need to touch the historic patrimony.

Taj Mahal: The Masterpiece Of Mughal Architecture

By ONUR SENKARDES

Taj Mahal is regarded as one of the eight wonders of the world, and some Western historians have noted that its architectural beauty has never been surpassed. The Taj is the most beautiful monument built by the Mughals, the Muslim rulers of India. Taj Mahal is built entirely of white marble. Its stunning architectural beauty is beyond adequate description, particularly at dawn and sunset. The Taj seems to glow in the light of the full moon. On a foggy morning, the visitors experience the Taj as if suspended when viewed from across the Jamuna river.

Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim, Emperor Shah Jahan (died 1666 C.E.) in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India. It is an “elegy in marble” or some say an expression of a “dream.” Taj Mahal (meaning Crown Palace) is a Mausoleum that houses the grave of queen Mumtaz Mahal at the lower chamber. The grave of Shah Jahan was added to it later. The queen’s real name was Arjumand Banu. In the tradition of the Mughals, important ladies of the royal family were given another name at their marriage or at some other significant event in their lives, and that new name was commonly used by the public. Shah Jahan’s real name was Shahab-ud-din, and he was known as Prince Khurram before ascending to the throne in 1628.

The Taj Mahal

 

Taj Mahal was constructed over a period of twenty-two years, employing twenty thousand workers. It was completed in 1648 C.E. at a cost of 32 Million Rupees. The construction documents show that its master architect was Ustad ‘Isa, the renowned Islamic architect of his time. The documents contain names of those employed and the inventory of construction materials and their origin. Expert craftsmen from Delhi, Qannauj, Lahore, and Multan were employed. In addition, many renowned Muslim craftsmen from Baghdad, Shiraz and Bukhara worked on many specialized tasks.

The Taj stands on a raised, square platform (186 x 186 feet) with its four corners truncated, forming an unequal octagon. The architectural design uses the interlocking arabesque concept, in which each element stands on its own and perfectly integrates with the main structure. It uses the principles of self-replicating geometry and a symmetry of architectural elements.

ITB Berlin 2010

By SEYHAN KOCDAG

The whole world meets at ITB Berlin: People, working in the travel industry and people, who want to catch up on the most beautiful travel destinations. The combination of trade exhibition, public exhibition and the biggest professional convention worldwide attracts tens of thousands of visitors, exhibitors and media representatives every year.

Look forward to the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show – 10-14 March 2010 on the fairgrounds of Messe Berlin.

The World’s Leading Travel Trade Show

The whole variety of travelling is present at ITB Berlin: Destinations, tour operators, booking systems, carriers, hotels and all other suppliers who want to embellish their customers most beautiful weeks of the year. ITB Berlin brightens your business.

There have been 108.000 professionals among the 180.000 visitors of ITB Berlin 2009

The Perfect Holiday Starts Here

ITB Berlin is THE B2B-Platform for trade visitors – an excellent opportunity to meet business partners and to do business. For all other visitors ITB Berlin is a wonderful possibility to discover the whole world within a few hours.

The Successful Business Trips Start Here

The globalisation of our economy is increasing. Next to leisure travel, business travel has become an important and profitable pillar of the travel industry. ITB Berlin is the perfect place to learn about new trends, concepts and cooperation possibilities – and to deepen existing business relations.

The Whole World Of Tourism At ITB Berlin

Granted, more than 180 countries and regions are not the whole world. But the one who wants to make a good bargain in the tourism industry comes to ITB Berlin. In this respect, the world’s leading travel trade show is the perfect platform for companies and institutions of the whole travel world – from Andorra till Zimbabwe.

With more than 180,000 visitors, among these 108,000 trade visitors, and over 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries ITB Berlin is the leading B2B-Platform of all tourism industry offers. In addition, the world’s largest tourism convention Market Trends & Innovations provides unique opportunities to benefit from the leading think tank of the global tourism industry. All levels of the value added chain are present: Tour operators, booking engines, destinations, airlines, and hotels up to car rentals.

Despite its size, ITB Berlin is clearly structured. ITB Berlin enjoys worldwide media recognition and offers comprehensive support for all marketing questions exhibitors might have. Finally, ITB Berlin is organized by a experienced exhibition management company, that successfully faces new aims and objectives again and again – Messe Berlin.

The Development of Online Booking Systems

By OZLEM KARAMANI

Online Booking Systems have been one of the most growing parts of tourism industry and have almost the largest share in tourism market for the last few years. This is an expected result as to book a hotel room through an Online Booking System is an easy, cheap and quick way to get a confirmed booking for travel agencies and end users as well when it is compared to make the same booking with the hotel directly.

The number of Online Booking Systems increase day by day so that B2B and B2C customers have lots of options to choose. On this occassion, the important thing for the Online Booking Systems is to be developed by the advanced technology and to have the best rates with highest availability to be able to get more share from the market. Due to the high volume of Sales and the special contracts with the hotels, Online Booking Systems can have better rates than the hotel’s rack rates and they can have allotments even on the busy periods such as fair periods.

As a usual result, the Online Booking Systems present the best oppurtinities to decide about a hotel from thousands of one by including the most improved hotel informations with interactive maps and to get a confirmation by a click at a better rate within minutes instead of waiting for hours or days for the confirmation from the hotel or other booking channels. Besides the Online Booking Systems do not also assist the travellers with the hotel bookings only, but also with the airport transfers and city tours.

We can be sure that the Online Booking Systems have the most important role for their users to have the best holiday ever.

Paris – Dreams May Come True…

By SELDA KOCER

Plenty of accomodations are available in Paris ranging from deluxe suites to hostels. Paris hotels are suitable if you want to make your hotel reservation with low budget. The cheap hotels may offer luxurious service to you. Besides the price, location is also very important in order not to be tied up a car. Because it is so nice to be able to walk out of the door and be in a cafe within minutes. You can use public transportation for long distances. Also be advised that you need to make some restaurant reservations - as well as the hotel reservation - at least 1 month in advance as they are always fully booked.

Louvre Museum - Paris

Online Hotel Reservation is the easiest and most efficient way to reserve your accommodation before starting with your tour. Just fill in your criterias and make your hotel reservation in a few seconds. After that , just enjoy your vacation in Paris. You will always remember the fashion capital as a result of the hospitality of the hotels, picturesque gardens and the taste of the wines. Whether you are looking for a short or a long term hotel reservation, do not forget to take a photo of the city.

Upcoming Event – WTM 2009 / 9~12 Nov / ExCel~London

By CANER GUMUS

World Travel Market (WTM 2009) is characterized as one of the most outstanding shows for travel sector. Staged every year, WTM is an imperative show which offers enormous opportunities for meeting the international travel industry.

If we have a look at exhibitors, we will see all  leading airlines, hotels, ticketing agents, rail operators, car rental companies, online hotel booking companies, travel agencies, tour operators, hotel booking wholesalers and many more. The exhibitors see it as a chance as according to the offical records, 49,963 travel industry professionals attended WTM 2008. Amazing !

A Shot From WTM 2008

The visitors evaluate all relevant factors and pick the best companies around to satisfy their and clients’ needs. WTM is a four-day travel industry event and brings together worldwide buyers and sellers from every sector of the industry. This means that every single company can steal market share in this four-day if they play the cards well.

Celebrating 30 years of WTM, which has not only helped bring tourism professionals together to conduct business across the world, but has also served as a spotlight on the latest trends and developments.

Holidays Hypermarket

By SEYHAN KOCDAG

ROMEXPO exhibitions centre will host  tourism sector this year between 15-18 October in  Bucharest TTR. The Tourism Fair will bring lots of professional travel company together. Wherever you want to make business, you can meet your colleague at TTR. This fair is the most sophisticated tourism fair after the World Travel Market which is organised in London. Exhibitors will be able to find the best hotel providers, online booking system users , traditional travel agencies, chain hotels at TTR.

Besides, we may offer to you a few statistical data from the latest edition of the fair :

The Tourism Fair of Romania 2008 – Autumn edition : Exhibition area is 10,800 square meters for 218 exhibitors.

The Tourism Fair of Romania 2009 – Spring edition : Exhibition area is 14.000 square meters for 302 exhibitors.  

In this fair it is possible to find everything you need in the tourism industry and and It will provide many benefits to your company.

For online invitation: For an easier access to the exhibitions organized within the Romexpo Exhibitions Center, you may fill in on-line invitation form for visit in the Romexpo’s own web page.

They are honoured to invite you to participate as an exhibitor in TTR 2009, being convinced that your presence in this event will open new business prospects to your company.

Agencies vs. Online Booking Systems

By ONUR SENKARDES

The travel agencies are  the tourism companies that we need while planning our vacations. The travel expert would advise us about accomodation facilities ,package tours and about the most popular destinations. They can even book flight tickets for us. The advantage of working with a travel agency is that the tourism professionals will do their best to provide a nice holiday for you so they can gain repeat customers. However, traditional travel companies are not as popular as online booking systems.

A Click May Save Your Time & Money

Online booking systems are very common  due to development of internet and technology. People can plan their vacations easily while they are surfing on internet. They can check hotels all around the world and get instant confirmation. It is possible to compare rates and avoid comission given to traditional travel companies with online booking. For this reason, people will be able to plan cheaper holidays.

To sum up, It is the choice of individuals to organize their holidays either through a travel agent or an online booking system. It is possible to say that the demand for online booking is steadily increasing.

Simplicity Is Everything!

By ERCAN KAYA

Hotel reservation is the most profitable department of a travel agency , that is why approximately 90% of world’s travel agencies make hotel reservation. The profit is attractive but as we know finding a hotel and confirming a reservation takes too much time. On the other hand, travel agencies needs more manpower to make hotel reservation.

Thailand

New generation hotel providers designed online hotel booking systems to simplify hotel reservation and the travel agencies realize that, the easiest way to make a hotel reservation is using online hotel booking systems. Now travel agencies can see all the photos, facilities and details of hotels. The best thing is they are also able to show the current prices of the hotels while making a hotel reservation.

As a result, one computer may provide a travel agency thousands of hotels with a click.

Global Hotel Suppliers Offer Advantages of Three Different Ways

By CAGLA DEMIR

Global hotel suppliers are providing a huge source for travel business  in which all travel agencies can easily make bookings for any destinations  in the world. Their inventory is including thousands of hotels, car rentals, flight tickets  and visa services. Contracting thousands of hotels and connecting them to travel agencies are making travel business work smooth and fast.  As this system saves a lot of time, it also helps travel agencies to reach higher profits .  What we can see is that The Global Hotel  Supplier business helps travel agents to provide loads of hotels  and high level of availability for their clients, this is how they support them to improve their business.

Pick Hotels All Over The World!

Moreover this system is so effective that it can also enable it’s customers to meet their expectations in terms of it’s price offers and hotel selections. Until the online business has been created, it was an issue for the hotels to have maximum occupancy.  Those years have passed by spending huge amounts of budgets for advertisings and campaignes to get some good share of travellers. Since the Global Suppliers have built their online system, the hotels do not need any high bugdet to promote their hotels.  The role of recent travel business is being a life saver for hotels in this world of economy  by cost effectiveness  and maximum occupancy.

Maiden’s Tower – Synthesis Of Mysticisim & Romanticism

By AYCA KURTBOGAN

Maiden’s Tower is one of the most outstanding symbols of Istanbul. The tower which is located on the entrance of Bosphorus Bridge, has been used for several purposes for a long time such as observatory and lighthouse.  The history and story of the tower make it one of the most romantic and mysterious locations of Istanbul.

The first story about the Tower was told by Ovidius; there is a Hero who is a priestess of Aphrodite and she lives  in a tower at Sestos, at the edge of the Dardanelles. Leandros, a young man from Abydos lives on the other side of the strait, falls in love with her and swims every night across the Dardanelles to be with her. Hero lights a lamp every night at the top of her tower to guide his way. But one stormy winter night, a jealous priest blows out Hero’s light and Leander loses his way, and is drowned. Hero throws herself from the tower in grief and dies as well.

Maiden's Tower

Another legend about the tower is; a sultan is told that his beloved daughter  will be stung by a snake on her 18th birthday and pass away. In order to protect his daughter the sultan places her in Maiden’s Tower. On her birthday, the sultan brings a basket of fruit to her daughter.  Suddenly, a snake comes out of the basket and bits the girl to death.

Maiden’s Tower is a center of attraction for ages  with its history and  attracts people’s attention from all over the world.Mystic , romantic, charming and fetching in the middle of the sea all alone…

Istanbul, Waiting For You…

by OZLEM KARAMANI

Istanbul which is also know as Constantinople is definetely one of the most beautiful cities in the world with its historical places, nature and night life. As hosted so many civilizations for years and being a part of Anatolia, Istanbul has so much beauties worth to see.

The are so many historical places in Istanbul, you can visit Topkapı Palace where the old Ottoman Emperors used to live at or you can enjoy the beautiful Istanbul view from the Galata tower. Istanbul is also famous for its museums and churchs which are so important for the Christians.

When you are in Istanbul you can enjoy your coffee or tea by the sea or you can taste delicious Turkish cuisines at the restaurants convenient for any budget by the Bosphorus Bridge that connects the East and the West.

Having so many attractions and accomodation facilities with the luxury and budget hotels, Istanbul is one of the most popular cities in the world and it welcomes so many visitiors from all over the world every year . Istanbul does not only welcome leisure travellers but also welcome business travellers as Istanbul hosts so many fairs, conferences and congresses every year.

Istanbul makes you feel both if you are in the ancient times or you are among the modernity.

There is so much to discover in Istanbul, don’t miss it.

Booking Wholesalers To Be A Matter Of Habit

By CANER GUMUS

Travel agencies and Tour Operators that are dealing with hotel reservations know that it’s seldom a simple matter to find out how much a hotel room actually costs. A room rate can differ significantly on any given day, depending on such variables as the current occupancy level, discounts invoked, and even the ability or desire  of a customer to haggle.

Comparison shopping on the Internet makes this process easier. But until recently, many hotel companies were not enthusiastic about setting up their allocation  in the undercutter  on-line market. This left marketing openings  for fast-growing online hotel  booking wholesalers  that buy hotel rooms in advance and then sells them on its online booking system at discounts that it contends are from 30 percent to as much as 65 percent off regular hotel rack rates.

Now, It's time to pick the best hotel provider!

Now, the bell is ringing for the hidebound hotel industry. Hotel room sales on the Internet are expected to increase thirty percent  in 2010 from 2009, and hotel companies expect Internet sales to account for ten percent of all bookings within five years. That’s according to an American travel-research company that did a survey at 16 major hotel companies representing more than 50 hotel brands and 20,000 individual properties, and found that those companies sharply increased investment last year in their own web sites, to an average of $20 million each.

Travel agencies and tour operators obviously like online hotel  booking wholesalers, as shown by the rankings through the world wide web. Keep up to date with them and always provide the cheapest to your clients!

Ecotourism Decreases The Negative Effects Of Tourism

By GOZDE GURBASAK

Eco tourism is also known ecological tourism or nature tourism. Ecotourism appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals. Generally ecotourism focuses on volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet. It typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Ecotourism is a conceptual experience, enriching those who delve into researching and understanding the environment around them. It gives us insight into our impacts as human beings and also a greater appreciation of our own natural habitats. Ecotourism also means education, for both tourists and residents of nearby communities.  Well before departure tour operators should supply travelers with reading material about the country, environment and local people, as well as a code of conduct for both the traveler and the industry itself. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, an integral part of ecotourism is the promotion of recycling, energy efficiency, water conservation and creation of economic opportunities for the local communities.

Nature is Our Treasure!

Ecotourism has many benefits.For example;ecotourism, recreational and educational travel based on natural attractions is a promising means of advancing social, economic, and environmental objectives in developing countries. ecotourism offers countries new opportunities for small-enterprise investment and employment and increases the national stake in protecting their biological resources. However, making ecotourism a positive economic and environmental tool requires policies that foster responsible nature tourism development, broad-based and active local participation in its benefits, and conservation of developing countries’ biological heritage.

Finally, ecotourism strives to minimize the adverse affects of hotels, trails, and other infrastructure by using either recycled materials or plentyfully available local building materials, renewable sources of energy, recycling and safe disposal of waste and garbage, and environmentally and culturally sensitive architectural design.  Minimization of impact also requires that the numbers and mode of behavior of tourists be regulated to ensure limited damage to the ecosystem.

Turkish Tourism

By SEZIN COPUR

Tourism Investment has been accepted as a profession in Turkey. Tourism has now become a leading sector in the Turkish economy. This is a very different approach.  Tourism sector in Turkey, have completed the past year quite successfully. Between Eastern and Western civilisations, Turkey in the middle is like a bridge that connects the two. Turkey is the spectacular story of a country that emerged from war to become a model both for the east and the  west. As you already know , Turkey is one of the world’s greatest tourist attractions in modern times. Besides its historical past which was rich in diversity of civilizations and the modern Turkey, appear endless conflicts . Substantially, the situation certainly affects the global tourist acticvities.

Turkey serves as a major bridge between different cultures and economic regions. Altough most of its geography, Turkey among the near east countries, take over . Turkey is a vast and varied country boasting incredible landscapes and natural seas. Besides this , This is also considered to be one of the riskier alternatives, as the success of the tourism sector is yet to be established. The importance of tourism sector has increased recently due to the role it plays in business life of Turkey. It brings a considerable income in terms of foreign currency,  that provides the country with new employment environments. There are some factors affecting tourism sector in Turkey and tourism sector in Turkey confront by serious problems which have not been considered yet to be important enough.

Uncovered Angel Face In Hagia Sophia

By SEYHAN KOCDAG

Recently, restoration workers uncovered a well-preserved, long-hidden mosaic face of an angel at the former Byzantine cathedral of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, which today stands as one of the oldest and most impressive museums in the world. The restoration workers were the first to lay eyes on the seraphim figure – a representation so significant that it was mentioned in the Bible – for what experts believe to be well over 700 years.

The mosaic had been covered up – along with the hallowed building’s other Christian likenesses – shortly after the city, then called Constantinople, fell to the Ottomans in 1453 and the cathedral was turned into a mosque. The mosaics were plastered over according to Muslim custom that prohibits the representation of humans.

Uncovered Angel Face

Hagia Sophia, also called the Church of Holy Wisdom, was built in 537 A.D. and remained a symbol of Byzantine grandeur until Istanbul was conquered by Ottoman Empire. The building was turned into a museum in 1935 when the modern-day Republic of Turkey was little more than a decade old.

Though the six-winged angel’s incredible discovery stands as an extreme example, uncovering antiquity is no uncommon occurrence in this millennia-old city. For example, recently an ancient ship was uncovered during a subway expansion project and, in Hagia Sophia itself, three more angel mosaics remain still uncovered and yet to be discovered. For travelers, these are simply two more reasons to explore one of the most storied cities on earth, where the cosmopolitan coexists with the ancient in one of the true cradles of civilization.

F1 Tourism

Formula 1 features one of  the best motorsport action in the world. The F1 event has millions of fans watching each race with great excitement. Formula 1 races  have many advantages for host countries. It is possible to say that F1 means more than a race for them.

F1 is one of the leading tourist attractions in a country!

The host countries of F1 widely benefit from worldwide advertisement. The races broadcoasted around the world and host countries are highly recognized by the viewers. Many people go to host countries to watch races. It brings millions of tourists and an high income.Tourists get to know other sightseeing areas of the country. For insantance, they would visit Sultanahmet , Dolmabahce Palace and other touristic areas of Istanbul one or two days before.These people can attract many other travellers to host country by word of mouth. Moreover, the people of host country can easily watch races which is so close to them and they  are able to see their favourite pilotes and race cars closely every year.

Greece Islands To Visit

 

Greece is a peninsular and mountainous country located in the Southern Europe, on the Mediterranean. Surrounded by the Aegean and the Ionian Sea, Greece is known for its large number of islands. Millions of people spend their holidays in Greece as the country is famous for the warm weather, the wonderful beaches and the beautiful natural landscape. Particularly popular are the Greek islands rather than the mainland.

A Shot From Mykonos

Every island differs from any other for its own beauty and charm. There are Greek islands for every type of character: remote and quiet islands, touristy, Greek party islands, unspoilt Greek islands, romantic and many other types, so you will surely choose the best for you to enjoy your perfect vacations.

The most popular islands of Greece are; Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Corfu, Lefkada, Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Alonissos, Skiathos, Crete, Rhodes and many others. All proposes a large selection of hotels.

Ancient City In Dardenelles

By CAGLA DEMIR

Troy is a city which has existed over 4.000 years and known as the center of ancient civilizations. For many years people believed that it was the city mentioned only in the tales and never existed until it was first found in the 19th century.

Homer first mentioned story of Troy in Iliad and Odyssey. Homer was drawing on a vast cycle of stories about Trojan War. The Iliad includes a few weeks in the tenth year of the war. The poem mainly centers on the Greek hero Odysseus and his long journey home following the fall of Troy. Later, it became the most popular subject in Greek drama.

Today it is the name of an archaeological site, the traditional location of Homeric Troy, Turkish Truva, in Hisarlık in Anatolia, close to the seacoast in what is now Çanakkale province in northwest Turkey, southwest of the Dardanelles under Mount Ida.

Visit The Ancient Troya!

Truva is in the vicinity of the archaeological site, but this town has grown up recently to serve the tourist trade. A large number of tourists visit the site each year, mostly coming from Istanbul by bus or by ferry via Çanakkale, the nearest major town about 50 km to the north-east. As the visitors go there they see a commercialized centre , surrounded by wooden horse built as a playground for children, shops and a museum.

The Term “B2B” and “B2B” In Travel Industry

By CANER GUMUS

B2B is contemporary shorthand for a longtime sales practice called business-to-business. B2B transactions primarily target companies and other wholesale buyers, while transactions targeting individuals are called B2C, or business-to-customer. Many organizations have both B2B and B2C components, but it’s not unusual for a company to specialize in B2B services or sales. In fact, the vast majority of products and services sold are considered to be B2B in nature.

One major reason for the popularity of B2B sales and services is sheer volume. An individual customer may visit a clothing manufacturer’s website catalog and order two pairs of shoes or a sweater. The buyer for a national chain of clothing stores, however, may order 5,000 pairs of shoes and 2,000 sweaters. Without a B2B component, the manufacturer would have lost out on a very lucrative sale. This is why many companies provide B2B options alongside the B2C offerings at their websites and other outlets.

Do you know the mean of "B2B" exactly?

In Travel Industry, The Web continues to motivate software and Web developers to make the life of business professionals easier and more productive. Planning a trip, booking hotels, getting destination information and location can easily consume a lot of time and effort.

Business travel booking and planning is a crowded online marketplace with many options and alternatives. It is easier than ever to find the best online hotel booking wholesaler nowadays by the power of the internet and global network. The Power of B2B’s  starts right here. They always try to provide tour operators and travel agancies the cheapest price and the most effective service to beat other competitives in the market. Online hotel booking wholesalers puts a target on destinations and always try to improve themselves on the selected regions as it’s a way of development in this gross market.

As a result, tour operators and travel agencies need to pick the best hotel booking wholesaler to have lucrative sales for their companies within the shortest possible time as the market is growing with an ustoppable celerity.

Explore The World By Sea!

By CAGLA DEMIR

There is no other travel experience that allows the freedom to explore the world, as by sea. Surround yourself in elegance and style and discover where the sun rises tomorrow.

Tourists enjoy the pleasure of having accommodation included in their travel package.

Take A Deep Breath On The Sea!

On the all inclusive luxury ships virtually everything onboard is covered including board, meals, entertainment, gratuities enrichment programs, some shore excursion adventures and plenty of other things.

Passengers have the opportunity to participate in cruises for the entertainment,as a full programme is worked out to entertain passengers while on board. Entertainment includes musical productions, cabaret performances, gambling and discos.

Coming Up Next: Winter!

By SELDA KOCER

Every year, the weather turns cold and travelers are left with a simple decision: grab your heavy coat and head off into the snow, or make a break for the warmer climates. No matter how you choose to spend it, there are numerous winter vacation destinations waiting for your arrival. This is the best time of year for those that prefer the white of the mountains. Whether you ski, snowboard, or just prefer the solitude that the darker months provide, winter destinations bring millions to the northern regions for vacation every year.

Winter Vacation!

But not everyone supports the cold and like vacation on winter. Thousands of tourists are looking to escape the dark night of winter and want to lay down on the sands. Many countries in the southern hemisphere must be included in a list of popular winter vacation destinations due to their opposing seasons. The South Pacific, with ideal winter destinations like Fiji, New Zealand and the Philippines, offers many opportunities. And, of course, there is the permanent attraction of Australia, which seems exotic.

Wherever you are – Carribean, Hawaii, Canada, Europe or Australia- we wish you a shimmering and enjoyable vacation this winter.

Conference Tourism In Turkey

By SEZIN COPUR

A treasure house of history and culture, Turkey is a gateway into a world of exciting possibilities. Located at the juncture of Europe and Asia. Turkey today is well equipped to handle meetings, incentives and conferences of all sorts and sizes in comfort and style. Traditional Turkish hospitality a high standard of local food and wine, and endless possibilities for entertainment and sight-seeing guarantee that any conference organised in Turkey will be a resounding success. Turkey is submitting richness of first class hotel, resort and conference facility, easily transportation to main cities of the world, beautiful decorations and unique panorama attraction.

Conference Tourism

Istanbul is the only city, in the world that embraces two continents, one arm reaching out into Asia, the other into Europe. The former capital of three successive empires – Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman – the city is a fascinating mixture of past and present, old and new, modern and traditional. The museums, churches, palaces, mosques and bazaars, and the sights of natural beauty seem inexhaustible.

In addition to its unique historical and cultural background and innumerable attractions, the modern hotels, exclusive restaurants, night-clubs, cabarets, bazaars and shops make Istanbul a superb site for meetings, conferences and conventions. The global crisis is shaping the travel preferences of tourists, according to a prominent figure in conference tourism in Istanbul. However, It is mass tourism that first comes to mind when talking about tourism and a substantial proportion of investment are made in that field.

Building Customer Confidence

By CANER GUMUS

One of the Internet’s greatest attractions, anonymity as you go tripping around the world, is also one of its chief weakness. People may browse your web pages, but when it comes to doing business, every day things go wrong in the service world and we are faced with the challenge of turning service failures into service recoveries. What does it really take to restore customer confidence and regain goodwill? Hotel booking wholesalers must put an attention on this subject.

Consumers want to book directly with brands they recognize and trust. Your Web site (especially online hotel booking wholesalers) is all about ensuring your guests book with confidence. Confidence is where they’re getting the best available rate. Confidence is where they actually have a reservation when they arrive. Confidence is where  there is no hidden booking fee. And confidence is where their security and privacy are always protected.

Confidence is the key!

Do not forget the 7 life-saving points for building an unbreakable customer confidence;

• Courtesy.
• Apology.
• Justification.
• Resolution.
• Immediateness.
• Compensation.
• Surprise & Delight.

These will bring you a never-ending success on your business and build a sustainable confidence on your customers.

Egyptian Pyramids

By AYCA KURTBOGAN

The Egyptian pyramids are ancient pyramid shaped masonry structures located in Egypt.

There are 118 pyramids discovered in Egypt as of 2008. Most were built as tombs for the country’s Pharaohs and their consorts during the old and Middle Kingdom periods. The earliest known Egyptian pyramid is the Pyramid of Djoser which was built during the third dynasty. This pyramid and its surrounding complex were designed by the architect Imhotep, and are generally considered to be the world’s oldest monumental structures constructed of dressed masonry.

The best known Egyptian pyramids are those found at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. Several of the Giza pyramids are counted among the largest structures ever built.

Egypt Pyramids

The Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid. It is the only one of the Seven Wonders of The Ancient World which is still in existence. All of Egypt’s pyramids, except the small Third Dynasty pyramid of Zawyet el-Amwat (or Zawyet el-Mayitin), are sited on the west bank of the Nile, and most are grouped together in a number of pyramid fields. The most important of these are; Abu Rawash, Giza, Zawyet El-Aryan, Abu Sir, Saqqara, Dahshur, Mazghuna, Lisht, Meidum.

The pyramids have been attracting most people’s attention for ages. They add mystic atmosphere to Egypt which makes the country even more charming.

Jump To Splashy Water In Turkey!

By CAGLA DEMIR

Rafting is an excited, adventured outdoor sport. When you flow on the river with your boot, you will reach  to summit of your exciting.

For many adventure seekers, Turkey is probably the last place on Earth to go for river rafting. Unknown to many, Turkey has some of the best water bodies nestled amidst sylvan mountain locales, to pursue river rafting, both for professionals and rookies.

Rafting!

Amongst the truly knowledgeable river rafting community, Turkey is mentioned in the same breath as France, New Zealand and the Colorado, as one of the premier rafting destinations in the world. The country abounds in mountains which give rise to rivers with swift currents and perilous rapids to titillate the experienced rafters. There are also placid rivers for those new to the sport.

In fact, river Coruh in the Kackar Mountains in northeastern Turkey is readily acknowledged as one of the world`s top ten rivers ideally suited for rafting.

Rivers that are commercially rafted in Turkey include:

• The Dalaman River (near to Marmaris, Fethiye and Dalyan) Grade 3-4, April – October.
• The Köprülü River, near Antalya – grade 3, April to October.
• The Çoruh River, North-east Turkey – grade 5 and 4, May to July.
• The Zamanti River, near Cappadocia – grade 3.

Sor-Sat Mantığından Online Sistemlere Geçiş

EREN ERALP

Günümüz turizm dünyasında artık herşey bir tık kadar yakın hepimize, istediğimiz uçak biletleri, tur paketleri, otel rezervasyonları, kişiye özel programlar ve daha bir çoğuna ulaşmak, evinizde otururken sıradan yaptığınız işler kadar doğal olmaya başladı. Peki, eskiden bu kadar kolay mıydı ? Tabii ki hayır!

Bir seyahat acentası ile yapılacak basit bir ürünün, yani otel rezervasyonunun Sor- Sat mantığındaki işleyişini görelim;

1. Tecrübeli bir personel müşteri telefonunu cevaplar, müşterinin talebini alınır.(2 dakika)
2. Talep için fiyat almak üzere otel / toptancı ile görüşür. Cevap alınması en iyi ihtimal ile ortalama (10 dakika)
3. Müşteriye geri dönüş ve onayının alınması, (3 dakika)
4. kredi kartı bilgilerinin alınması, paranın çekilmesi (4 dakika)
5. Otel/toptancının aranması ve konfirmasyonun tamamlanması (20 dakika)
6. Müşteriye vaucher’ın mail atılması (2 dakika)

Peki aynı işleyiş online sistemde ne kadar vaktimizi alır ? Yaklaşık 4 dakika .

Hepimizin bildiğini SEYAHAT ACENTALIĞI, tanımı itibarile şu şekildedir;

Seyahat ve Turizm Endüstrisinin temel bileşenlerinden birisi olan seyahat acentaları turizm endüstrisinin dağıtım, pazarlama ve organizasyon kolunu temsil ederler.

Seyahat acentalığı mesleğinin katkıları ile seyahat olgusu tüm dünyada kitlesel boyutlara ulaşmış ve endüstriyel bir nitelik kazanmıştır.

Seyahat acentaları, aracı pozisyonu ile seyahat ürünlerinin dağıtımını yaparken, diğer yandan çeşitli hizmet ve ürünlerin bir araya getirilmesi suretiyle, paket seyahat ürünleri yaratır.

Seyahat acentaları turizm sektörünün en önemli demirbaşlarındandır, kurumsal, bireysel olarak kişilerin yada şirketlerin bütün seyahat gereksinimlerini büyük bir titizlikle karşılarlar. Seyahat acentaları ile çalışmak bir çok açıdan  büyük avantajlar sağlar, bunlardan en önemlisi yapacağınız planlanmış seyahat’in bütün aşamalarında sizin herhangi bir işlemle uğraşmamamızıdır.bunun yanında bir çok ürünü bir arada bulmak bir bilen ile iş yapmak!

Bireysel anlamda yapacağınız seyahat planlamalarında, en büyük yardımcınızıdır sehayat acentaları ve bir zaman sonra doktor hasta ilişkisine benzer. Güven, hizmet kalitesi ve fiyat en önemli unsurdur sizi seyahat acentalarına bağlayan. Kendi aralarında bir çok katagoriye ayrılırlar. Örnek vermek gerekirse, sadece uçak bileti satanlar, outgoing yapanlar, incoming yapanlar veya rent a car yapanlar. Bu şekilde ayırabileceğimiz bir sürü katagoride faaliyetlerini sürdürürler. Kurumsal şirketler açısından düşünürsek en önemli etken ‘’Cari’’ çalışmaktır. Hava yolları şirketleri, oteller gibi kuruluşlar genelde ödeme sonunda rezervasyonunuzu konfirme ederler. Ama şirketler bunu pek tercih etmeyerek, belli bir işleyiş akışında seyahatacenlarına ödemeleri iki şirket tarafından belirlenen periyodlar sonunda gerçekleştirirler. Bir diğer önemli unsur planlama. Şirketlerin genelde bu gibi iş seyahatlarını tasarlayacak yada vakit ayıracak departmanları yoktur veya böyle bir departmana sahip olmak istemezler, bunun için bir sehayat acentasıyla çalışmak onlar için en doğru ve kesin çözümdür. Yine burdada en önemli olgu güven ve hizmet kalitesidir.

Peki bu kadar işlevi olan seyahat acentaları neden kan kaybındadır?

Cevap çok basit. Teklonoji! Yukarıdada bahsettiğimiz gibi dünya genelinde yaşamımızın ayrılmaz bir parçası olan internet sayesinde, değindiğimiz bütün ürünler çok daha hızlı ve çok daha az maliyetli şekilde elimizin altında, biliyor musunuz ? Gün içinde ayıracağınız bir 5 dakka içinde dünyanın herhangi bir yerine anında otel rezervasyonu yaptırabilir, uçak bileti satın alabilir veya bir dünya turu düzenleyebilirsiniz. Online otel rezervasyon sistemleri, online uçak bileti sistemleri, online gezi siteleri ve daha bir çoğu… Bu kolaylığın sonunda ortaya şu tablo çıkıyor, istediğiniz herhangi bir seyahat ürünü için kimseyle iletişime geçmenize gerek kalmıyor.

Şu bir gerçek insalar artık internetten istediği yere isteğini şekilde gitmenin ne kadar kolay olduğunu öğrenmeye ve güvenmeye başladı, bu sehayat acentarı için büyük bir tehdit olarak varlığını sürdürüyor. Günümüz turizm piyasasında online sistemlere geçiş yapmayan seyahat acentaları ve kuruluşlar, ileride bunların sıkıntılarını hissedecektir. Bunlarla beraber Sor-Sat mantığı’da eskimiş ve zamanını doldurmuş bir anlayıştır. Günümüz dünyasında insanların yoğun iş temposunda bu gibi uzun işlemlere ayıracak vakitleri kalmamıştır.

Yine de Teşekkürler Sor-Sat, iyiki vardın!

Underground Cities Of Cappadocia

By SEZIN COPUR

Certainly the most interesting features of the Cappadocia area are the underground cities founded within.Cappadocia is the land of odd landscapes and ancient cities carved deep underground. The exact timeframe of the underground cities is unknown; the first they were mentioned in text was in the writings of Heroditus in the fifth century B.C. Some experts feel that the cities were created by the Hittites for storage areas and then later on put into use by Christians fleeing persecution from the Romans. Nobody can know how many underground cities there are in the Cappadocia area. Even though the number of visitors to the underground cities is smaller than those visiting the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, slowly the word is getting out about the hidden treasures waiting there.

Capadoccia

The first populations of the region of Cappadocia were Hatties, Luvies and Hittites. In the 3000-2000 years B.C. the Assyrians have established trade colonies in this region. The Cappaddocian tables with cuneiform in Assyrian language founded at Kanes which are lighting the social and politic life of the period. These cities were almost perfect as a system of defense. In times of danger very large slabs of rock resembling millstones were placed at the entrances and in the tunnels. Everything required for life underground was carved from the rock.In the prehistoric periods the first human settlements have begun and the humans have constructed the underground cities in the volcanic rocks in form of tufa due to protect themselves from the wild animals and they lived for long times in these underground cities. There are so many underground cities on the Cappadocia area of Turkey but the biggest is Derinkuyu Underground City.

Underground Caves

Hotels All Around The World With One Click

By CANER GUMUS

Nowadays, the internet is in our lives never than before . We can get any information through internet like hostel reservations, tour booking, car booking, paying bills and many more. You can easily find online hotel reservations without extra charges, because you will find many competitive hotel sites in your search result.

Hotels All Around The World!

Within a second, online hotel booking wholesalers can provide more details and facilities of the hotels such as where the hotels are located and what are the services they are going to provide you and if there are any extra charges for their services, etc. In many hotels, they are charging extras for facilities, but in some other hotels, they are not charging for any extras. Companies are providing software programs or web-based solutions for online hotel booking without extra charges. By using that, you can reserve your hotel room or you can book service that you need and  you don’t struggle with long reservation process’.

Now, every single agency is having internet connection in their office. By using that, it is possible to make online hotel bookings without extra charges within a second. Nobody wants to waste their time waiting in long phone holds!

Istanbul 2010 European Culture of Capital

By SEYHAN KOCDAG

A bill to ensure that Istanbul is ready to be the European Capital of Culture in 2010 was approved in Parliament on the 2nd of November, 2007. The law envisages the foundation of an ‘Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency’ in order to take necessary action for planning and managing activities as well as coordinating public institutions to that end.

A Shot From The Street "Istiklal"

Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency has launched a promotion campaign in abroad to feature billboards in Paris, London, Madrid, Berlin, Frankfurt, Brussels, Venice and Rome for making Europeans meet with the 2010 European Capital of Culture Istanbul. The campaign labels Istanbul as “The most inspiring city in the world” on a picture showing the impressive silhouette of the Historical Peninsula, one of the unique beauties of Istanbul to outline once again that Istanbul is a city of real inspiration today just as it has been in every period of history.

Bosphorus Bridge By Night

Among the points where the campaign meets Europeans are world-famous Piazza San Marco of Venice, Cromwell Street of London as well as international airports such as London Heathw, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt airport and Gard du Nord the most important train station in Paris. Istanbul will reflect its inspiration to Europeans in those critical points in Europe during various periods from 3 months to one year.

The promotion campaigns realized in abroad by the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency will be introduced in detail to the general public with a press-conference to be held in December.

Maiden Tower

Why Istanbul?

Istanbul maintains a distinguished position among the metropolis of the world with its unique geographical location and a cultural heritage of thousands of years. As one of the most energetic cities in the world Istanbul continually gets to be an attraction center.

As Istanbul being the European Capital of Culture in 2010, Europe will re-discover the roots of its own culture and will take a giant step for understanding each other. Success of Istanbul’s being the European Capital of Culture will depend on Istanbul residents’ embracing and supporting of this Project by extensive participation

Olympus National Park in Turkey

By ONUR SENKARDES

Olympos national park is in a valley at the south coast of Turkey, 90 km southwest of Antalya city near the Town of Kumluca.The former city of Olympos was founded in the Hellenistic period, presumably taking its name from nearby Mount Olympos , one of over twenty mountains with the name Olympos in the Classical world.From these mountains of the Solymi, according to Homer, the god Poseidon looked out to sea and saw Odysseus sailing away from Calypso’s island, and called up a great storm that wrecked him on the shores of the island of Nausicaa.

Olympos

The chief deity of Olympos was Hephaestus, god of fire and blacksmiths. Near Olympos, located in the neighbouring village of Çıralı and about 200 meters above sea level, the eternal flames called the Chimaera may be seen issuing from the ground. The fuel source for the flames is natural gas, largely methane, seeping through cracks in the earth. The mythical Chimaera – or Chimera – was a monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a serpent, who roamed these woods and sprouted fire from her mouth.

A Sea View From Olympos

In the Middle Ages, Venetians, Genoese and Rhodians built two fortresses along the coast, but by the 15th century Olympos had been abandoned. Today the site attracts tourists, not only for the artifacts that can still be found , but also for its scenic landscapes supporting wild grapevines, flowering oleander, bay trees, figs and pines.

Fitur 2010 Madrid

By AYCA KURTBOGAN

FITUR, International Tourism and Trade Fair is going to be held in Madrid between 20-24 January 2010. There is no doubt that the fair will turn Madrid into a hallmark of tourism. FITUR is a meeting point for tourism professionals through which they can develop tourism business.  It is a kind of business forum which includes plenty of tourism experts, consultants, travel agencies, etc.

The promotion of tourism business is one of the main purposes of this platform. It also aims to familiarize the tourism developers and travel agencies. It is a way of creating international consolidation between people from all around the world. FITUR is a good way to introduce themselves for the travel agencies who seeks a place in tourism platform especially in the outbound travel market .

Fitur 2010

It is claimed that almost 140.000 professional visitors will participate in the fair this year. It will also be a good way for Spanish Outbound Market in terms of attracting people’s attention.  Spain’s FITUR is Spain’s largest travel and tourism fair and the third largest of its kind in Europe.

Health Tourism In Turkey

By CAGLA DEMIR

Human has considered water to be curative for centuries. Especially, the benefits of sea water and thermal springs for human health have always been well known. SPA for “sanus per aquam” in Latin means ‘health by water” and is a kind of alternative treatment with “various aromatic oils and massages” human has not given up for 3000 years.

A shot From Orucoglu Thermal SPA

At the last count there was over 1,000 thermal springs in Turkey, offering their therapeutic qualities to the Roman civilisations which inhabited western Anatolia region and providing bags of untapped tourism potential to today’s government. The natural resource that the thermal springs in Turkey provide is valuable to the country.

A Shot From Yalova Thermal SPA

THERMAL TOURISM CENTERS OF TURKEY

Adana: Haruniye Thermal Toursim Center
Afyon: Ömer ve Gecek Thermal Toursim Center
Afyon: Gazlıgöl Thermal Toursim Center
Afyon: Hüdai Thermal Toursim Center
Amasya: Terziköy Spa
Ankara: Kızılcahamam Thermal Toursim Center
Ankara: Sey Hamamı Thermal Toursim Center
Balıkesir: Gönen Thermal Toursim Center
Bingöl: Kös Thermal Toursim Center
Bursa: Oylat Thermal Toursim Center
Bursa: Çekirge Thermal Toursim Center
Bursa: Armutlu Thermal Toursim Center
Çanakkale: Kestanbol Thermal Toursim Center
Denizli: Pamukkale Thermal Toursim Center
Erzurum: Pasinler Thermal Toursim Center
Eskişehir: Sarıcakaya – Sakarılıca Thermal Toursim Center
İzmir: Çeşme Thermal Toursim Center
İzmir: Karahayit Thermal Toursim Center
Kırşehir: Terme Thermal Toursim Center
Konya: Ilgın Thermal Toursim Center
Kütahya: Harlek (Ilıcaköy) Thermal Toursim Center
Kütahya: Muratdağı Thermal Toursim Center
Manisa: Kurşunlu Spa
Muğla: Sultaniye Thermal Toursim Center
Nevşehir: Kozaklı Thermal Toursim Center
Rize: Ayder Thermal Toursim Center
Samsun: Ladik Thermal Toursim Center
Siirt: Billoris Thermal Toursim Center
Yalova Thermal Toursim Center
Yozgat: Sarıkaya Thermal Toursim Center

Amsterdam: “A Tale of Two Cities”

By SEVI UCAL

People who have traveled here can probably all agree on one thing: The story of Amsterdam is the tale of two cities – one during the day, and a radically different one at night.

While the sun is up, the largest city in Holland sits quietly on the Amstel River, which feeds the various canals running through the Centrum area making up most of the city’s downtown. You can rent a bicycle, visit the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum, or take a water taxi. Dam Square attracts daytime sightseers to its festivals, open markets, concerts and other events. If you only do one thing in Amsterdam, make it a canal cruise. Amsterdam’s canals are its signature and arguably most charming feature, and cruising these criss-crossing waterways puts the city in perspective while offering unique views of dozens of spectacular Amsterdam sights in a short period of time.

Amsterdam By Night

As Dam Square darkens for the evening, the party people begin to pack the Leidseplein neighborhood, beckoned by the call of house music blaring from Club Paradiso, or hip hop or funk at the Melkweg. These are two of the most popular clubs in Europe, frequented by some of the best turntablists in the world, so if you come, be ready to dance. Hundreds of restaurants and bars fill the neighborhood; watching the beautiful people flirting with each other is as entertaining as taking part. As evening falls, the Red Light District lives up to its name – it is literally lit up in soft, red lights. The partying begins – in the mega clubs, in the infamous Red Light district, and in coffee shops where curious tourists gather to hang out, talk politics and smoke. After a few days and nights sampling Amsterdam, it’s time to head to Schipol Airport for the trip home.

Travel Industry, Growing Day By Day

By OZLEM KARAMANI

Travel industry has been one of the most profitable business in the world for the last few years and for sure the online booking engines take the biggest share from the the sector. Nowadays the online booking engines are the easiest, cheapest and the most secure way to make a reservation.

The online booking engines offer you the advantage to search and find the best hotel matching your needs and because of the competition between these online booking engines you can reach the cheapest price and you can make your reservation just by a click within few minutes. For each hotel you can reach every details including detailed room types, hotel information  and even driving directions to the hotel.

In the past travellers used to make the booking directly with the hotel or through a local travel agency but the online booking engines give you instant confirmation instead of waiting for hours or  making phone calls for a reservation confirmation.

Using the online booking engines  is the most popular way to book a hotel for the end users and for the travel agencies as well.

Is Dubai Artificial And Based On Illusion?

By SELDA KOCER

It is man-made and full of incredible hotels, representing a map of globe with an indoor ski slope in the middle of the desert. And, recently, Dubai had also become synonymous with excess: building the tallest tower in the world and the biggest and most expensive luxury hotels, residences, shopping malls and office complexes. Although the economy of Dubai, like those of its neighbours, was originally built on oil, it also has some other sources, such as tourism, trade and finance. Dubai is inviting multinations to use Dubai as the Middle Eastern base for their activities in Asia and elsewhere. Now, as a result of the recent boom, it seems that this hedonistic expansion will never end. Because it is based on global integration , not only in terms of trade, but also the movement of people ; with the help of tourism which was conrtributed by Indian tourists.

Burj-Al Arab in Dubai

Eventhough a collapse of Dubai is being dreamed after the crisis, Abu Dhabi help showed that it will not end so easily.

Kruvaziyer Turizmi ve Türkiye’de Gelişimi

By GÖZDE GÜRBAŞAK

Kruvaziyer turizmi, turizmin sahip olduğu çeşitli kollarından sadece birisidir.Günümüzde artan turizm talebi içerisinde özellikle kruvaziyer gemilerle yapılan turizm, giderek artan ölçüde talep görmektedir.

Kruvaziyer turizminin başlagıcına baktığımızda 1800lü yıllara kadar uzandığını ve bu tarihlerde ABD ve Avrupa arasındaki seyahat edecek zengin kişileri taşıma amaçlı olduğunu görmekteyiz. 1900’lü yıllardan itibaren 2. Dünya Savaşı’na değin İngiliz, Alman, Amerikan ve Fransız şirketleri Avrupa ile Amerika kıtası arasında lüks yolcu gemileriyle en hızlı ulaşımı sağlama yarışına giriştiler. 14 Nisan 1912’de Titanic adlı 270 metre boyundaki dev transatlantiğin buzdağına çarpıp batması ve yolcu ve mürettebattan 1502 kişinin hayatını kaybetmesi debu hızı kesmedi ve kruvaziyer gemiler gün geçtikçe gelişti.Fakat “Kruvaziyer Turizmi” diyebileceğimiz etkinlik aslında dünyada 1960’lı yıllardan itibaren başladı ve asıl popülaritesini bu dönemden itibaren yakaladı.

Kruvaziyer Turizmi Dünya'daki Krizi Dinlemeden Devam Ediyor.

Kruvaziyer turizmi Türkiye’de yeni yeni tanınıyor. Ama Ege Bölgesi’nde özellikle son iki yılda yüzde 100’e yakın büyüme oldu. Konuyla ilgili en büyük firmalardan Princess’ın 2006 raporuna göre en büyük gelişme göstermiş ilk beş ülke arasındayız. Bu da Türkiye’nin kruvaziyer turizminde büyük potansiyeli olduğunu gösteriyor.Buna bağlantılı olarak,okyanus aşırı turistik yolcu gemilerinin kente gelmesini hedefleyen İstanbul Ticaret Odası ABD’nin Miami kentinde 10-13 mart tarihleri arasında  düzenlenen ‘Cruise Shipping Miami’ kruvaziyer turizmi fuarına katılıyor.

Kruvaziyer gemilerle, bölgemize gelen turist sayısı arttı ve her kruvaziyer gemisi yaklaşık 2500-3000 yolcu kapasiteli. Çok daha önemli bir başka konu ise kruvaziyer gemilerle gelen turist profilidir. Özellikle Amerika’lı yolcuları getiren kruvaziyerlerde diğer turistlere göre gelir seviyesi yüksek yolcular bulunmaktadır. Kruvaziyer turizmi ile ülkemize gelen turist profilini de düşünürsek yapacakları alışveriş, alacakları turla ekonomiye katkıları çok daha fazla olacaktır.

Hawaii'den Bir Görüntü

Sonuç olarak,turizmin önemli bir gelir kaynağı olduğunu ve kruvaziyer turizminin de bu gelir de iyi bir yere sahip olduğunu düşünürsek; kruvaziyer turizmine verilen önemi arttırmalı ve kruvaziyer turizmini geliştirmeliyiz.

Tourism Status In Antalya At Last Years

By SEZIN COPUR

Because of the archaeological and natural riches of the area, Antalya is also known as the Turkish Riviera. The sun, sea, nature and history combine to form a very popular resort, highlighted by some of the cleanest beaches in the Mediterranean. With its palm-lined boulevard, internationally-acclaimed marina, and old castle with traditional architecture, all set amidst a modern city, Antalya is a major tourist centre in Turkey. In addition to the wide selection of hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops, the city also plays host to a number of sporting events throughout the year. The number of German tourists visiting the southern resort province of Antalya has risen by five percent when compared to last year while the number of Russian tourists visiting this province rose by 20 percent when compared to 2007. According to date obtained from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, tourists from 70 countries arrived in Antalya with direct flights from their countries.Realizing what a popular vacation destination, Antalya has become for Russian Citizens .Turkey comes second in a list of Russia’s tourism market .Last year some 2,8 milion russians visited Turkey.Russians are also told to be waiting for the law restrinting foreign meal real estate purchases to change , so they can invest further. Russian businesspeople ‘s new destination for investements is Turkey’s southern city of Antalya which is often referred to as Turkish riviera.

Seville; The Heart Of Andalusia

By ERCAN KAYA

Seville certainly is one of the most beloved places by visitors to Spain. Although today Moorish influence is architectonically most evident – Andalusia was occupied by Moors for about 800 years – it has been a cultural center long before Later came Romans, like almost to any place in Europe, and two of their emperors, Trajan and Hadrian, in fact were born here.

Also later on, Seville was the home of famous and infamous figures of history, the legendary “Don Juan” started from here to conquer the hearts of women across all Europe, while Columbus started from a port close to Seville to discover a new world. Prosper Merimée’s “Carmen”, who couldn’t make her decision between the officer Don José and the bullfighter Escamillo – the consequences you can watch still today in opera houses – was a worker in Seville’s old tobacco factory. By the way, this factory serves today as University, a fact that might give you a glimpse on Andalusian talent for improvisation.

Seville - Spain

When you visit this city, you are in the very heart of Andalusian culture, the center of bullfighting and Flamenco music. Take yourself time and take life easy, as Andalusians use to do, and interrupt sightseeing from time to time to have a few “tapas”, those typical “small spanish dishes”, and a glass of Sherry wine in one of the probably thousands of bars in this city, and consider a few of the hints on the following pages to make your stay a memorable one.

Turkey Welcomes You

By CAGLA DEMIR

Turkey, known as “the cradle of civilization,” is the birthplace of many great cultures and is a synthesis of east and west, geographically bridging Europe and Asia.

Turkey lies on the Anatolian peninsula, surrounded by seas on three sides and mountains on the other. Throughout its rich history Turkey has been prominent as a center of commerce because of its land connections to three continents and the sea surrounding it on three sides.

Turkey Heritage Map

In this setting, you can find an enormous variety of climate and natural effects. Geographically, Turkey is generally divided into seven regions; the Black Sea region, the Marmara region, the Aegean, the Mediterranean, Central Anatolia, the East Anatolian and Southeast Anatolia regions – offering a wide variety of travel experiences from excellent downhill skiing in winter to some of the world’s most spectacular yachting and diving to fascinating historical and cultural tours throughout the country.

You can paraglide over the Dead Sea, do scuba diving in Antalya, rafting in River Coruh, yachting in the blue coastal line, hot air ballooning in Cappadoccia, mountaineering in mount Ararat and hunting in the national parks of Turkey. You can also play golf, explore caves, ski on the mountains, visit hot springs and spas, enjoy the national parks, view the wild life or travel the green plateous of Turkey. Also you can visit historical places from ottoman, byzantine empire.

Turizmde Parlayan Yıldız; Temalı Oteller

GOZDE GÜRBAŞAK

Bu döneme kadar turizmde devam eden tekdüzelik 2010 yılı itibariyle kendini yeniliklere bırakıyor. Bu yeniliklerin de en büyük payını kuşkusuz temalı oteller oluşturacağa benziyor. İçinde bulunduğumuz tarihe kadar hem dünya genelinde hem de Türkiye’de birçok temalı otel girişiminde bulunuldu. Fakat 2010 yılı sonrasındaki örneklere ve planlara bakıldığında temalı otellerin dünya turizminde önemli bir yere sahip olacağı gözüküyor. Günümüze bakıldığında; Temalı otellerin temelini dünya genelinde Dubai’deki Burj El Arab oluştururken, Türkiye’de Topkapı Palace, Kremlin Palace, Venecia Resort,Titanic ve bu otellere sonradan eklenen Concorde Resort Spa gibi örnekler gösterilebilir.

Fiji Adaları'nda yapılan bir denizaltı oteli.

2010 yılından itibaren ise dünyanın dört bir yanında uzay çağını yansıtacak temalı oteller birer birer açılmaya başlanacak ve turizm sektöründe yeni trend belki de uzay çağı olacak. Bu oteller sayesinde denizaltında, atmosferin dışında ya da yeryüzünde konaklamak mümkün olabilecek. Örnek vermek gerekirse; dünya yörüngesinde konumlandırılacak The Galactic Suite adlı otelin 2012’de açılması planlanıyor ve yörüngede hareket halinde olan otelde 4 gece konaklanabilecek. Ayrıca otelde konaklama yapılabilmesi için de 18 haftalık uzay eğitimini almak zorunlu.

2011’de açılacak Poseidon otelinin tam olarak yeri bilinmese de Fiji’de konukların 12 metre suyun altında konaklayacakları belirtiliyor. Aynı yıl içerisinde Seyşeller Adasında açılacak 35 odalı Zil Pasyon’un lobisi üzerinde dibi cam olan bir havuz barındıracağı ve konuklarına manzaranın keyfini çıkarttıracağı söyleniyor. Şangay’da 2013 yılında çatısı çimenlerle kaplı, sıcak ve soğuk suyu jeotermal kaynaklardan elde edecek çevreci otelin açılması planlanıyor. Yine 2013 yılında Dubai’de açılması planlanan Hydropolis istiridye görüntüsünde 220 suitten oluşuyor ve terör saldırılarına karşı gelişmiş bir güvenlik sistemiyle destekleneceği belirtiliyor. Amerika ise Meksika körfezinde Amerika’nın Dubai’sini oluşturmak amacıyla Oil Ring Resort otelini açarak otelin kumarhane, gece kulübü ve restoran olarak kullanılabileceğini düşünüyor.

Dubai Hydropolis Hotel

Bütün bu otel örneklerine baktığımızda aslında turizm sektöründe bugüne kadar çok yol aldığımız ve 2010 yılından sonra da çok yol alacağımızı görüyoruz. Dünya ülkelerinin gelirlerinde önemi yadırganmayacak bir yere sahip olan turizmi bu şekilde yeni fikirlerle geliştirdiğimiz sürece hem ülkeler hem de ülke insanları bu gelirden payına düşeni alacak ve ekonomiye önemli bir katkı olacaktır.

Christmas Breaks in Europe

By SEVI UCAL

Europe Christmas breaks can be a lifetime experience so grab the opportunity this year. Whether you are in Amsterdam or Vienna, Brussels or Prague, every destination in Europe teems with life and enthusiasm during Christmas .So if you plan for Europe Christmas breaks this year, here is Vanilla Tours providing you with all the information that you need to know for planning your Europe Christmas breaks.

Greece: Situated in the southern most part of Europe, this is a place where you will find yourself at the crossroads of the traditional and the modern. The capital city of Athens is probably the most popular of the tourists’ destinations in Greece. The Acropolis, right at the center of the city is a preserver of the historical ruins and is the most famous of the attractions in Athens. Besides this, there is Agora, which was the economic, political and cultural pulse point of the ancient times. The islands of Crete, Corfu, Crete, Sartorini and Rhodes are some of the most scenic and picturesque beach destinations in Greece.

Venice: This is a place in Europe, which you can never cease to explore. Whether you are out on the beautiful barges enjoying the gondola serenading tours or you are out sight seeing its famous ghetto and wildlife in the lagoon, Venice just doesn’t cease to enchant you. Venice has some of the breathtaking island locales; San Michele, Murano, Burano, Mazzorbo, Torcello, and the Lido di Venezia are the famous spots of tourist’s attraction. But remember if you want to see the real Venice, it is best to explore it on foot.

Paris: A trip to Europe will be incomplete without a visit to the most romantic city of Paris. There are several conducted sightseeing tours in buses, which will cover major spots in the city within a limited time. So even if you have very short time for the trip you will not miss out on the famous spots in Paris. Make sure to visit the Eiffel Tower at night to avoid the rush and of course the lighted tower looks more enchanting. If time permits you may also plan to explore the St Martin Canal in the sightseeing tours on boats. Rest assured you will get every penny’s worth of fun and enjoyment.

Congress Tourism

By FUNDA OLCAY

Congress tourism, convention and conference activities revealed a growing branch of tourism that is. In 1995, 20,000 world-wide organization of the congress in 2005, 35.000 was realized over. Congress of the leading countries in tourism in Austria in 2005 compared to the previous year increased by 1 million accommodation 17′lik percent limit was exceeded, the revenue earned from tourism in motion an increase of 7 percent has been achieved. Congress tourism, hotels, political parties, private companies, holdings, etc.. done in areas where tourism is a type of meeting.

Conventions of the year in terms of density and especially off-season of shows were done in the period to positively affect their occupancy rate of hotels.

Istanbul By Night

Congress Tourism Features

* Congress and congress tourism hospitality, technical equipment and a strong infrastructure in terms of other elements need. Therefore, arrangements for conferences and activities, an expert must be made through the business.
* Required for the meeting of the Congress buildings and convention centers such as the fixed investment cost is high, usually performed by state or local government.
* General outside of the tourist season and was held in the period covering the wide range of services for tourism, is the species most revenue. Congress of tourist expenditure, spending several times higher than other tourists.

Convention Tourism and Istanbul

Congress of Turkey’s most visited tourist city of Istanbul entertainer. Congress held in Istanbul is 85 percent of Istanbul, in 2007 is home to nearly 60 international conferences hosted by 42 thousand participants. Istanbul’s 75 years at international level have the capacity to make the congress said. Among the opponents of Istanbul, the world is home to the highest international congress of the Austrian capital Vienna draws. Created in 2007 with over 150 international congresses to Vienna, respectively, Paris, Singapore, Barcelona and Berlin will follow. Eruope on the basis of looking to host an international congress in Istanbul during the eighth in terms of, in terms of congress tourism has a major attack.

Istanbul Beyoglu

Some  of the congresses will be held in 2010 in istanbul;

*Industrial Material Congress, 04-05 February 2010, 200 people will attend.
*EURASIARAIL 09-11 February 2010, 400 participants have.
*International Patient Organization Association Conference 23-25 February 2010, 300 people will attend.
*Cancer Protection Congress 03-07 April 2010, the number of participants 2 thousand.
*European Business Angels Network, 15-16 April 2010, 300 people will attend.
*International Destination Expo (ASTA) 19-22 April 2010, 2 thousand people attending.
*Formula-1 May – June 2010
*08-13 June 2010 Congress Hepetoloji and Nutrition, more than a thousand participants are expected.
*World Burn Congress, 21-25 June 2010, 500 people will attend this congress ride.
*World Hydrogen Energy 14 to 18 July 2010, will be held with the participation of 600 people.
*International Conference on Image Recognition 23-26 August 2010, 1500 people will come to Istanbul.
*Underwater Medicine Conference on 14-18 September 2010, 750 people will attend.
*Project Manager Congress 01-03 November 2010, 600 people are expected to attend.
*Neonatology and Perinatal Congress 15-17 November 2010, more than 2 thousand participants will join this congress.

Eastern Destinations For Christmas

By SELDA KOCER

For a Christian holiday, Christmas gets surprising attention in a continent dominated by Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists and many people see it as a romantic season, a time for couples and lovers to share intimate moments together. So Christmas is celebrated the world over and Asian cities like it so much.

For instance in Tokyo, Japan Christmas is seen as a commercial season, a time for romance between couples and for corporations to deck their offices in lights. The month of December is the time for gift giving between the companies.

In Seoul, South Korea Christmas is a public holiday as 30% of population is Christians. But non-Christian Koreans are also exchanges gifts and decorate their houses and streets.

As a great mall of the world, Jakarta celebrates the Christmas and the prices are said to be lower compared to some Asian countries.

For many people, Christmas Day might be a time of rest – especially for non-Christians and it is so nice to travel somewhere, so nice to see a city in the East.

By the way, we wish you a merry Christmas even you rest at your home or you travel for some destination in order to spend this amazing time of the year.

Flying: Is It Safe?

By CANER GUMUS

The recent crash of the Air France flight 447, traveling from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, killing 216 passengers and 12 crew members on board, on June 1, 2009, was one of the deadliest air crashes in the history of Air France. Even though statistically, it is shown that air travel is one of the safest modes of transportations, such horrific tragedies and news are never forgotten even long after they occur. It prompts us to think, ‘How safe is flying’?

Boeing Biz Jets

A survey conducted twenty years ago showed that about 25 million people in the United States feared flying. The survey was conducted again in March 2001 which showed that 20% of people were still afraid of flying. The September 11 tragedy perhaps has increased their fears and compelled all of us to think, ‘Is flying really safe’?

Everybody tells you that flying is statistically safer than almost any other mode of transport. But is this true? YES IT IS! As proof, here are a few statistics and charts;

*A US National Safety Council study showed flying to be 22 times safer than travelling by car 21,000 people (on average) die on the road in the US in a 6-month period. This is approximately the same amount of all commercial air travel fatalities WORLDWIDE in 40 years
*More than 3 million people fly EVERY DAY.
*A Boeing aircraft takes off or lands every 2 seconds somewhere in the world – all day, every day!

This next chart shows a comparison betweeen the number of airplane accidents and the actual number of departures. You can see how safety has dramatically improved since the early days. This graphic comes from the Boeing Website.

Accident Rate History

Flying is now a necessity more than a luxury, and therefore one cannot categorize flying as an option. Where time is money, how can one really sacrifice hours of travel by other modes, when flying is safe, if not safer than other modes of travel.