The 2nd TÜRSAB Tourism Congress, organized by TÜRSAB with the aim of shedding light on the future of tourism, analyzing the changes in the travel industry worldwide, and increasing solidarity, started today in Antalya and will take place between February 16-18, 2024. At the congress held at the Royal Seginus Hotel, participants will have the opportunity to attend conferences, panels, and academic sessions, as well as to meet other members, engage with suppliers, and learn about the tourism potentials of regions.
Firuz Bağlıkaya, the President of TÜRSAB, made a speech at the opening of the congress. In his speech, Bağlıkaya said:
"I thank each of you separately for your participation in our 2nd TÜRSAB Tourism Congress, which we initiated to analyze the developments in tourism in Turkey and the world, to provide our colleagues with a new perspective by addressing changing consumer behavior and travel habits. Tourism, known as the smokeless industry worldwide for its role in driving the economy, activating over 50 sectors, generating foreign currency income, and creating employment, is at the forefront of sectors that stand out in terms of international competition.
Tourism cannot be viewed solely in terms of foreign currency, income, and numbers
Although tourism is primarily considered an economic activity by some actors in the public sector and the industry, the contribution of tourism to societies' understanding and respect for each other's differences is as valuable and important as its economic contribution. Tourism needs peace, and peace needs tourism. Tourism can be one of the most effective activities to protect the world. Therefore, we cannot look at tourism solely in terms of foreign currency, income, and numbers. We need to utilize tourism in the fight against wars and environmental disasters that make the world uninhabitable. That's why we are excited to listen to our speakers who will approach tourism from different perspectives at our congress.
Dominating common sense in a competitive environment has a special meaning
While world tourism is taken to a new dimension with technological advancements and environmental concerns on one hand, it has become much more important for countries' economies on the other hand. Many countries take special measures for the development of tourism. All destinations worldwide are making unprecedented efforts to host more tourists and generate more tourism revenue, while also taking measures for sustainability. In this competitive environment, developing new strategies, making target-oriented plans, and dominating common sense carry a special meaning to increase market share and create a sustainable tourism structure beyond survival.
As TÜRSAB, moving from this perspective, we consider it our duty to organize events and organizations that add value to our sector, with the responsibility brought by our history of over half a century and being Turkey's most established tourism professional organization. There is a separate importance of strengthening existing structures and institutions that achieve current successes in order to stand out in the competition in world tourism.
Ignoring us is ignoring tourism
It's a fact that if our country is recognized as one of the significant tourism destinations in the world today, it's largely due to the role of our travel agencies that have created, developed, and brought Turkish tourism to today, and TÜRSAB, representing our travel agencies in every condition. Tourism is the organized form of travel. Travel agencies, as the ones who make and organize travel necessary and possible, are the true elements of tourism. Ignoring us is ignoring tourism. Thinking that we will disappear is like thinking that tourism will disappear. Therefore, as long as we exist, tourism will exist; as long as tourism exists, travel agencies will exist. As long as travel agencies exist, their professional organization TÜRSAB will also exist.
The support of our colleagues gives us strength in our struggle
Tourism cannot be viewed solely in terms of foreign currency, income, and numbers. Although tourism is primarily considered an economic activity by some actors in the public sector and the industry, the contribution of tourism to societies' understanding and respect for each other's differences is as valuable and important as its economic contribution. Tourism needs peace, and peace needs tourism. Tourism can be one of the most effective activities to protect the world. Therefore, we cannot look at tourism solely in terms of foreign currency, income, and numbers. We need to utilize tourism in the fight against wars and environmental disasters that make the world uninhabitable. That's why we are excited to listen to our speakers who will approach tourism from different perspectives at our congress.
Dominating common sense in a competitive environment has a special meaning. While world tourism is taken to a new dimension with technological advancements and environmental concerns on one hand, it has become much more important for countries' economies on the other hand. Many countries take special measures for the development of tourism. All destinations worldwide are making unprecedented efforts to host more tourists and generate more tourism revenue, while also taking measures for sustainability. In this competitive environment, developing new strategies, making target-oriented plans, and dominating common sense carry a special meaning to increase market share and create a sustainable tourism structure beyond survival.
As TÜRSAB, moving from this perspective, we consider it our duty to organize events and organizations that add value to our sector, with the responsibility brought by our history of over half a century and being Türkiye's most established tourism professional organization. There is a separate importance of strengthening existing structures and institutions that achieve current successes in order to stand out in the competition in world tourism.
Ignoring us is ignoring tourism. It's a fact that if our country is recognized as one of the significant tourism destinations in the world today, it's largely due to the role of our travel agencies that have created, developed, and brought Turkish tourism to today, and TÜRSAB, representing our travel agencies in every condition. Tourism is the organized form of travel. Travel agencies, as the ones who make and organize travel necessary and possible, are the true elements of tourism. Ignoring us is ignoring tourism. Thinking that we will disappear is like thinking that tourism will disappear. Therefore, as long as we exist, tourism will exist; as long as tourism exists, travel agencies will exist. As long as travel agencies exist, their professional organization TÜRSAB will also exist.
