Travel agencies benefiting from the Eid holiday went to a great discount, especially in international tour prices.. Many Turkish citizens who could not go to hotels in the country showed great interest in international tours.
I was one of those who showed interest.. I spent probably the last holiday of 2008 on a cruise in Athens and the southern islands of Greece.
All my worries disappeared on the first day of the tour, which started as an anxious curiosity.. The service, almost like a five-star hotel, pleased me greatly.
About 200 personnel working on the ship resembled the United Nations.. Among the workers, mostly those coming from Southeast Asian countries and Greeks were predominant.. Our ship was already under the Greek flag.
The Greek Night “Greek Show”, which was held on the first day on board, had a butchery atmosphere. many different dance performances were presented, up to the zeybek; each one made to promote Greek culture! This show, which is called a show with the Greek flags around and the visual scenery expressing Greece, has almost turned into a nationalism show.
While it is obvious what this nation, living in a common geography with us, has done in the field of tourism, let’s still try to do tourism in concrete structures.
The dominance and success of Greece, which has a population of approximately 10 million, in the seas is an issue that should be watched carefully.. The number of vessels flying the Greek flag is about 10 times more than those with the Turkish flag.. We are a country surrounded by seas on three sides, but we are not a maritime nation.. Since most of the 3000 islands in the Aegean Sea are Greek lands, it is a fact that they are dependent on the sea for transportation.
After visiting the islands of Patmos, Crete, Santorini and Mykonos separately. Then I realized that these islands are no different from the holiday destinations on Turkey’s coastline, and that many of them cannot even come close to our natural beauties.. As someone who has been to the islands of Chios, Lesbos and Limnos before, I can clearly say that our districts such as Bodrum, Çeşme and Marmaris are many times more beautiful.
In terms of marketing and promotion We are zero on the left next to Greece. While tourists come from South Korea, America and even Venezuela to join the Greek Islands tour, why are our beauties, which include many historical buildings, not in demand?
You can see almost all of what you can see on Santorini Island, which is perched on the rocks, in Çeşme.. From the moment you enter the island, you enter a path that focuses on spending money.. Especially when handmade souvenirs and alcohol prices are very affordable and interesting, everyone who goes can not do without shopping.. You can see thousands of bottles and images of Greek raki Ouzo on every island, and the affordable prices tempt you.
The same special drinks, which are sold for 50 YTL in Turkey, are 7 Euros in Greek territory. Sold at ridiculous prices like. We must undertake serious planning and investment in tourism.
The last thing tourists want to see is concrete piles and majestic hotels…
Tourists like protected, natural and calm places. Unfortunately, our holiday venues, which are full of architecturally worthless buildings, are unfortunately deplorable.
If there is a show called Turkish Night on a cruise one day, maybe something has changed that day. .
