Thirty years in the hotel trade, one insistence for İzmir: five million visitors. The target, the two pillars that would carry it, and the case in his own words.
A city's future is as great as its imagination.
The same sea, the same sun, far more history — the only things missing are proper promotion and resolve.
The thesis has been in the papers since 2015. Each line opens the clipping in the archive.
Not a city squeezed into a three-month season, but a destination that lives twelve months a year. İzmir has two natural strengths.
A geography carrying the traces of two great religions. Faith tourism is the pillar that keeps İzmir standing regardless of season.
The thermal springs reaching inland from Çeşme, together with spa and treatment centres, and thalassotherapy, are the second force that carries the season into winter.
Apartmanla, rezidansla turizm olmaz.
“Apartments and residences don't make tourism.” He goes on: “Neither foreign visitors nor tour operators come to a residence.” A city's tourism grows with hotels, with beds and with proper promotion.
Progressiveness comes from action, not from words.
Tourism and promotion are as fundamental a duty for a municipality as collecting the rubbish.
Tourism has no love for war; nobody takes a holiday where there is fighting.
Not a speech but itemised proposals: the “Integrated Tourism Strategy Proposal” sets out İzmir's tourism potential along three axes.
Thermal and health tourism — the Çeşme and Agamemnon springs, spa and treatment centres, thalassotherapy.
Faith tourism — making use of the Ephesus, House of the Virgin Mary, Bergama and Seven Churches route.
Gastronomy tourism — using the promotional power of Aegean cuisine.
