[ Tourism strategies for 2009 announced ]

Despite a global economic crisis, there is no decrease in hotel reservations for 2009, says culture and tourism minister.

Turkey's tourism industry can overcome the effects of the global economic crisis if it offers reasonable prices and a well-organized promotion policy, the culture and tourism minister said yesterday.

 Speaking at a press conference regarding Turkey's advertising campaign for 2009, Ertuğrul Günay said the economic crisis emerged at the beginning of 2008 and he expected it to end before the tourism season of 2009.

  Despite the crisis, people all around the world will continue to visit tourist destinations and European tourists in particular are likely to prefer closer destinations, like Turkey, instead of remote places, such as the Far East, China and Japan, he said. Turkey can turn the crisis into an opportunity if it promotes itself well internationally and adopts a reasonable price policy. He also noted there had been no decrease in 2009 hotel reservations.

Günay said Turkey would focus in 2009 on destination-oriented advertising and promotional campaigns that aim to make Turkey a brand in tourism. He also highlighted the country's advantages and diversity in tourism compared to its rivals. In addition to sea and sun tourism, Turkey could diversify tourism facilities by highlighting faith tourism, winter sports, health, thermal and congress tourism, sailing tourism, and Turkish cuisine and hospitality. The campaigns will also highlight the Turkish treasures of Istanbul, Antalya and Cappadocia as destinations for international travelers in 2009. The ministry will also target tourists from America, Europe, the Middle East and the Far East through international campaigns.