A new platform in Turkish tourism

I was invited by Hande Arslanalp, the founder of the İzmir-based İtaltur, to attend the meeting of a newly established tourism platform.

The name of the platform, which adopted the acronym KURAP, can be translated to English as Corporate Agencies Union.

As it can be understood from its name, the platform brings under its roof agencies that provide services to corporate companies.

Service to corporate companies means better quality service. Although the number of companies under KURAP is currently limited to 17, Arslanalp believes they represent a serious potential in terms of turnover.

The companies that founded KURAP are also members of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB).

As underlined by Moris Kasar, of the Moris Tourism company, whose father was among the founders of TÜRSAB, it is rather difficult for agencies providing service to corporate companies to make their voice heard within TÜRSAB, which has more than 7,000 members.

“All of us need the power of TÜRSAB. We are not here to oppose TÜRSAB. On the contrary, we are trying to help shoulder TÜRSAB’s burden.”

KURAP has two main missions. The first is to train qualified personnel. This is one of the things that no doubt the tourism sector is in need of.

The second mission is to adapt to technological developments faster.

Kasar is right when he says “our biggest competitor is not the other agencies but the internet.”

Online reservations for travel and accommodation are spreading out while Airbnb and similar trends that are the best examples of sharing economy are becoming a part of our lives.

The missions that KURAP has adopted will no doubt benefit the whole tourism sector.

Healthier lives for our children

We all talk about healthy lives.

Yet most of the sports activities and healthy diet programs target the adults.

How about children? The World Health Organization advises minimum 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children.

Research shows that 60 percent of children aged between six and 11 in Turkey are not exercising regularly.

Allianz Türkiye is one of the ardent followers of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Turkey. The company prepared a new program with the motto “Healthy lives for children.”

Aylin Somersan Coqui presented the other day Allianz Türkiye’s new program that will contribute to the development of children with sports and activities.

The program aims to reach 42,000 children in seven regions in eight years. The aim of the program is to get children to develop a habit of doing a sports activity in and outside of school and increase their sports skills.

Allianz Türkiye has also secured the support of several prominent NGOs while setting on the road. Suat Özçağdaş, the founder of Social Innovation Center, is the program coordinator.

The Aegean Association for the Support of Contemporary Living, Koruncuk Association, Turkish Athletics Federation as well as Educational Volunteers Association of Turkey’s are among the supporters.