Antalya
trend continues, we will become the largest airport in the Mediterranean,” says Laukenmann. “Some other players underestimate us as a player but they are always impressed by the hard facts.”
Antalya Airport’s largest airline customers are Sky and SunExpress, for international services, and Turkish, for domestic fl ights. Russian, German and UK airlines also have a strong presence, along with leading tour operators such as ThomasCook and TUI.
Turkey’s tourism growth Turkey’s tourism industry has been enjoying growth over the past fi ve years, due to the perception that it is affordable, since it is not on the euro. It has therefore been taking marketshare from other Mediterranean competitors such as Spain, Portugal and Greece.
Strong economic growth within the
Turkish economy is also fuelling growth in air travel within the country – the economy grew 10.3% in the second quarter of this year, according to the state statistic agency. Yakar adds that domestic air travel was up 13% in Turkey in 2009. “In the past Turks mainly used buses to travel around – the bus fl eet is very modern, but Turkey is a big country and fl ying is quicker and more convenient.”
Antalya offers classic beach holidays as well as niche tourism products, such as golf and medical tourism.
www.routesonline.com
Showcasing Antalya Now, Antalya Airport and its operator ICF Airports are keen to demonstrate its market to the international tourism industry and has chosen to do so by hosting the inaugural Routes Tourism Mediterranean event in February next year. “We believe we need to market Antalya better,” says Laukenmann. “We
are very proud of our infrastructure and want to present it, and the city and region, to the world.” Tourism leaders, airlines, airports, tourism authorities and suppliers from across the Mediterranean will be attending this event, which is aimed at bringing them together with outbound tour operators running programmes in the Mediterranean and who are seeking new or improved products and offerings in the region.
The two airport general managers explain that the Turkish tourism authorities have been particularly active in their efforts to grow Turkey’s share of the European tourism industry, and that representatives from Turkey’s Ministry of Tourism and its Civil Aviation Authority, along with other offi cials, will be in attendance at Routes Tourism Mediterranean.
Niche tourism products For Antalya, hosting the event in February means that there is the bonus that it will take place in what is traditionally the city’s low season. ICF Airports and its many tourism partners in Antalya believe this will give them a unique chance to showcase the many low-season tourism products that are being developed to combat seasonality.
“Our season used to be six months long during which we received 75% of our traffi c. Now the season is starting to be extended and Antalya is putting a lot of infrastructure in place for the low season,” says Laukenmann. Yakar explains that Belek near Antalya is home to numerous top-class golf courses and that golfers prefer the summer shoulder months, as it can get uncomfortably hot during the peak summer season. “The months of
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