Tourism players want Yenikapı as new cruise port of Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Doğan New Agency

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A leading tourism representative has said the sector players want to turn Istanbul’s Yenikapı into a new cruise port amid renovation works in the city’s main cruise port. 

“We need a cruise port in Istanbul as the main cruise port of the city, Galataport, is being renovated right now and these works will continue at least four years,” said the head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), Başaran Ulusoy, at a meeting with a number of journalists on Aug. 28. He added that the Haydarpaşa Port, another main port of the city located on the Asian side of Istanbul, is not suitable for cruise tourism. “The most ideal port is Yenikapı, which is already defined as one of the largest meeting areas of the city by authorities. We have asked the authorities to give the port to us as the main cruise port. Only a few meetings are held in the area, and we can put the cruise ships offshore when any meeting is held in the area,” Ulusoy said.

Ulusoy has also asked for more support from Turkish Airlines to support the sector. 

“Our airline companies, specially Turkish Airlines, should always remember that we, as the representatives of tourism agencies, play a great role in surging their ticket sales…They should sponsor and support us just as they did for the world’s leading football clubs,” he said. 

Ulusoy also said the sector has faced difficulties this year and called for the authorities to launch an exclusive commission to discuss the sector’s issues once a month.