Taking place under the moderatorship of Eastern Mediterranean University Tourism Faculty Vice Dean Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç, this week’s TV program entitled “Tourism’s Notebook” hosted the director of Starwood Travel Agency and Cyprus Turkish Travel Agents Association representative for Famagusta and Iskele regions Oğuz Akançay, who gave information on the problems of the TRNC tourism sector as well as travel agencies.
EMU Business and Economics Faculty Economics Department 2009 graduate Oğuz Akançay, stated that high airline fares contribute to the problems in the tourism sector. Akançay also stated that due to online ticket purchase options, some small-scale travel agencies have come to the point of bankruptcy. Akançay put forth that small-scale travel agents are not able to benefit from tourism support.
Additionally, Akançay claimed that the number of tourists choosing to visit our country is quite low due to the high airline fares. Akançay invited relevant tourism organisations as well as the related ministry to take action regarding this critical issue. Since the TRNC is a tourism and an education island, Akançay stated that each stakeholder in the tourism sector should approach the issue very sensitively. Akançay claimed that the topping prices in airline fares is due to the privatisation of Ercan Airport and the dramatic increase in airport taxes. Towards the end of the program, the current situation of the tourism in TRNC as well as the negative effects of the closure of the Cyprus Turkish Airlines were discussed.
