|
|
PAGE 1
July 2007 Pollution fine for environmentalist exposition.
The port authority of Bodrum imposed a fine of YTL 1550 to a group of artists who organized an  underwater exposition to highlight sea pollution, as the artists did not collect the artwork from the sea after their project.
Denizi Pişirdik art group, "We Cooked the Sea" in English, organized an underwater ceramic exposition on the theme of recycling to draw attention to excessive consumption and environmental pollution. Under the framework of fourth Bodrum film festival last month, the ceramic artworks were presented around the two sunken war ships. But the artists did not collect the ceramics on time despite four warnings by the Bodrum port authority.
The exposition was prolonged in response to overwhelming interest, said İnci İyibaş, the spokesperson for the art group. She emphasized that it is impossible for the exposition to pollute the sea. “On the contrary, the aim of the exposition was to leave those people who pollute the sea alone with their conscience 30 meters under the sea,” she said. The art group applied to other authorized institutions and made a complaint against the Bodrum port head Eray Aykanat, İyibaş said. Denizi Pişirdik group has been organizing underwater ceramic expositions since 2001.
Artworks perished under the sea
The exposition was prolonged without any permission, the port head Aykanat said. “The artworks perished in the sea, and they started to create pollution,” he said. “We imposed a fine, as they pollute the sea while trying to draw attention to pollution,” Aykanat said. He emphasized that the port authority tried to support the artists in all ways throughout the project and that the group ignored their repeated warnings.
Source: MUĞLA, Bodrum – Doğan News Agency
July 2007 Turkish Airlines to Join Star Alliance.
The Chief Executive Board of Star Alliance has voted to accept the membership application of Turkish  Airlines.
This now clears the way for Turkish Airlines to begin the integration process which will subsequently see the airline become the alliance’s 21st member carrier.
With its fleet of 101 aircraft and network covering destinations in the USA, Europe, Asia and Africa, Turkish Airlines will allow the Star Alliance network to offer customers more than 17,500 daily flights serving 927 airports in 162 countries. Turkish Airlines’ home base, Istanbul, will in future become Star Alliance’s foremost hub at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and act as gateway to various new destinations in Turkey and new connections especially to Central Asia and the Middle East.
“With Turkish Airlines joining Star Alliance, we can offer our customers a wider choice of flight options while at the same time expanding our network reach to areas previously not served. Here specifically, Star Alliance will be in a unique position to offer flight connections through, what has historically been, the gateway to both Asia and Europe,” said Jaan Albrecht, Star Alliance CEO.
For Turkish Airlines, Star Alliance membership will allow the carrier to expand its customer offer in terms of network coverage, frequent flyer benefits, lounges and alliance fare products. At the same time, Turkish Airlines will participate in all Star Alliance initiatives aimed at reducing costs, while at the same time improving customer service, such as collocation at airports, joint lounges, electronic ticketing or joint media purchasing, to name a few.
Dr Candan Karltekin, chairman of the Turkish Airlines, stated that becoming a Star Alliance member is one of the most important steps in Turkish Airlines’ 73 years long history.
“Our goal is to become a global brand in the world aviation sector. We believe that we have an important place in the international competition. We are successfully earning a position to compete with the world’s giants. For this reason, being a member of Star Alliance network is a historical milestone for Turkish Airlines. We will add new aircraft to our current fleet of 101. In 2007, we will be the most important brand to represent Turkey in the world,” he said.
Candan Karltekin said the membership of Star Alliance will also add a great value to Istanbul, the home base of Turkish Airlines.
Dr Temel Kotil, CEO of Turkish Airlines, emphasised that they have shown a much bigger growth than the level of the growth occurred in the aviation sector recently. He said that Turkish Airlines is the 27th airline company in the world in terms of fleet and it is the airline company showing the greatest growth in Europe during the first nine months of 2006. Kotil further explained that Turkish Airlines has increased its global aviation market share from 0.59 per cent to 1.1 per cent in 2006.
The integration teams at Star Alliance and Turkish Airlines will now begin the integration process, which should be completed within the next 16 months.
Source: www.ttnworldwide.com
April 2006 Solar Eclipse Benefits Turkish Tourism The clear view of the century's first total solar eclipse put  Turkey under the spot light and has made an enormous contribution to the country's promotion and economy. After NASA announced that the eclipse would best be viewed in Turkey, tourists rushed to the country days before the event and had the opportunity to see Turkey's cultural wealth first hand. Live broadcasts of the eclipse via TV channels were also an advertisement for Turkey's tourist areas. Tourist groups mostly visited Side, Antalya, a southern Turkish city, Cappadocia, Konya, a central Anatolian city, all cities rich in historical and natural beauties, and brought a needed infusion of foreign currency. Tradesmen were thrilled as Turkey warmly hosted nearly 300,000 tourists. Tourists were hosted in historical provinces such as Antalya, Konya, Nevsehir, Kirsehir, Aksaray, Tokat, Yozgat, Kayseri, Giresun, Sivas, and Ordu from where the total eclipse could be watched. Activities promoting Turkish culture were highlighted in the festivities. Tour leaders accompanied tourists to places with historical value and natural beauty.
Antalya was the province where those who came to watch the solar eclipse gathered most. Antalya Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Ibrahim Acar said these foreign tourists included scientists, photography buffs and journalists.
The clear view of the century's first total solar eclipse put Turkey under the spot light and has made an enormous contribution to the country's promotion and economy.
August 2007 Growing Interest In The Mevlana Museum
KONYA - The number of people visiting Mevlana Museum located in the central city of Konya rose 18 p.c. within the first two months of this year, compared to the same period of last year.
The museum was attracting visitors from all around the world.
Speaking to the AA correspondent Director of Konya Museums Erdogan Erol said they were expecting a significant rise in the number of visitors since 2007 was declared by UNESCO as "the Mevlana year" .
Erol said the number of visitors was 77,940 in the first two months of 2006 and it rose to 91,267 this year. Source: www.turkishpress.com
August 2007 Turkey Among Most Popular Holiday Destinations For Danish People.
ANTALYA - Turkey is one of the three most popular holiday destinations of Danish people, said Kim Jorgensen, Danish Ambassador to Turkey.
Jorgensen had a meeting with (southern city) Antalya Chamber of Trade & Industry (ATSO) Chairman Kemal Ozgen on Monday.
Noting that the population of Denmark was 5,300,000; Jorgensen said 1,300,000 Danish people have visited Antalya to spend their holiday so far.
Jorgensen stressed that Danish people prefer Turkey for their holiday because it had a great cuisine, a beautiful climate and hospitable people, stating that Danish authorities were eager to boost relations and cooperate in several areas with Turkey.
On the other hand, Ozgen noted that nearly 150,000 Danish people spent holiday in Antalya a year, stating that they will be glad to see more Danish tourists in the city.
Source: www.turkishpress.com
|
|