Arab & Turkish Travel Magazine May 2019

MAY 2019

Adana, An Amazing Tourism City

In this issue Cover story

26 Adana, Amazing Tourism City

News from Arab Market

6 ATM 2019 is taking place 28 April - 1 May in Dubai

25 IBTM Arabia 2019

MAY 2019 4 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

Arab & Turkish Travel Magazine Prepared by S&M Publication Ltd. ART DIRECTOR: Özgür Töre HEAD OFFICE: S&M PUBLICATION LTD. Muratreis mah. Muradiye Mektep Sokak 13/1 Baglarbasi Istanbul-TURKEY Tel:+90.216.391 3795 www.arabturkishtravel.com ALL EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES TO suat@arabturkishtravel.com - ozgur@arabturkishtravel.com

News From Arab Market Algeria New Four Points by Sheraton Setif in Algeria Marriott International announced the opening of Four Points by Sheraton Setif in Algeria, in partnership with Prombati SPA owned by Rachid Khenfri. With 191 rooms the hotel is conveniently situated in the centre of the city, providing easy access to Setif ’s new tram line and Setif International Airport just 20 minutes’ drive away. The modern hotel towers high above the city and is situated in one of the most desirable areas in Setif which is steeped in history and surrounded by national landmarks dating back to the Berber Kingdom and the Roman Empire.

“Four Points by Sheraton Setif is Marriott International’s ninth property in Algeria and a great addition to our rapidly growing portfolio in North Africa. Situated in a prime area in the city centre the hotel offers the brand’s renowned comfortable hospitality experience that meets the needs of today’s modern traveler,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International.

Henricus Broekhoven General Manager of the Four Points by Sheraton Setif commented, “We are excited to open Four Points by Sheraton Setif set in a historic and sought-after part of the city. The hotel offers an uncomplicated travel experience with its comfortable room offering, convenient location and wide range of facilities. We look forward to serving our guests with the warm and genuine service that the Four Points brand is known for.”

Bahrain Gulf Air Offers Free Extra Baggage Allowance for Golfers Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in a move to facilitate travel to golfers around its global network, has enhanced its baggage allowance for golf players to include one golf bag over and above their baggage allowance. The new policy has been introduced in response to increasing demand from golfers who fly to attend various golf events within the global Gulf Air network.

Gulf Air’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Krešimir Kučko said: “Gulf Air is happy to further enhance its baggage policy to make it easier for our passengers who travel with their golf equipment. With our expanding network and appealing frequencies, many golfers prefer to fly with us to attend golf events and tournaments regionally and globally and now it’s time to reward them with additional complimentary baggage allowance”.

The new baggage allowance covers one golf bag containing one set of clubs, balls, one pair of golf shoes and one umbrella, which all must be held within a purpose-designed golf travel bag weighing 15 kilograms or less.

Back in October 2018, Gulf Air launched a new and simplified baggage policy providing more choice and clarity to its passen6 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

News From Arab Market gers. The old weight concept was replaced by a harmonized piece concept worldwide, which provided greater benefits to passengers and Falconflyer loyalty program members. Currently, passengers are entitled to check in up to two bags free of charge, depending on their fare type, route and up to three bags depending on their Gulf Air Falconflyer status. On many routes, the new concept means increased baggage allowances for customers and an instant reduction in excess baggage rates. Customers can benefit from further reductions if they purchase directly with Gulf Air up to 24 hours before travel.

Comoros Mayotte ferry suspended, new blow to Comoros tourism French authorities on the island of Mayotte have suspended all ferry services linking the island with the rest of the Comoran archipelago due to safety negligence. Already, flight connections between Mayotte and Comoros are restricted, giving further blows to the planned development of tourism and trade in Comoros. Mayotte, which is a Comoran island that insists on remaining French, is the major site of arrivals of foreign tourists to the archipelago, given its relatively good international connections. Many visitors to Comoros have used Mayotte as an entrance point for island hopping on the archipelago.

This option has now been barred by the French maritime authorities in Mayotte. According to local reports, the Comoran ferry connecting Mayotte and Grande Comore has been prohibited accessing the port of Dzaoudzi. Authorities for a long time had tolerated security flaws of the ferries, but continuous failures to comply with French standards finally saw the service suspended.

The reaction by Mayotte authorities comes after the 1 December accident on the ferry 'Ville de Sima', which was partly destroyed by a fire as it approached ht coast of Mayotte. This prompted maritime authorities to launch an inspection on the remaining ferries, which by far did not meet safety standards. Other passenger ferry services between Mayotte and Comoros had been closed for the same reasons earlier this year.

For the economic development of newly stabilised Comoros, the closure of one of the last connections with Mayotte is a major setback. The ferry services were important for trade between the islands and for the slowly developing tourism sector. The suspension comes in addition to other setbacks in the infrastructure sector. Flights between Mayotte and Comoros have been stopped by Mahorais authorities for most of the last decade to prevent the substantial illegal immigration from Comoros. Equally, there are very few flights connecting the Comoran capital Moroni with the outside world.nThe national airliner, Air Comore, was crippled by a disastrous attempt to privatise it in the end-1990s. Air France suspended its services to Moroni in 1997 and with the end of Air Comore, few connections remain. Most international connections now go via the French island of Réunion or via other regional airports.

In November this year, everything was going to change, with ambitious plans by Réunion's second airliner, Air Bourbon.

Together with capital from Comoros and France, it was to launch the new Comoran carrier Air Comores International, based in Moroni. Air Comores was to connect Moroni directly to Paris, Marseille, Mayotte, Réunion, Mauritius and Dubai.

On 27 November, however, after the plans to launch Air Comores International already were delayed, Air Bourbon went bankrupt. The Reunionese company had invested too much, too rapidly in its ambition to become the Indian Ocean's principal airliner. Comoran authorities are looking for new investors to take the place of Air Bourbon, but have so far not been successful. One of the main aims of the new Comoran airliner had been to promote the "immediate development of the economy and the tourism sector" of the Comoran archipelago. Comoros remains the Indian Ocean destination less developed for tourism, while neighbouring nations such as Seychelles, Mauritius and Réunion have become wealthy on the tourism industry.

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 7

News From Arab Market Djibouti Djibouti and Ethiopia to cooperate in tourism Tourism only contributes 3 percent of GDP in the small Horn of Africa country of Djibouti, and more investment is needed to boost this figure, Djibouti’s top tourism official reported.

Although Djibouti has a lot to offer tourists, with its sandy beaches, pristine coral reefs, and cultural and historical attractions, dramatic investments in infrastructure facilities are needed to draw visitors and diversify the economy, Osman Abdi Mohammed, the head of Djibouti’s National Tourism Office, said on the sidelines of the second Djibouti International Trade Fair.

With the resumption of Air Djibouti passenger flights in 2016, the 2018 inauguration of the new Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, the construction of two new international airports, and the modernization of the current airport, the country has taken important steps to develop its international connectivity, he said.

Djibouti’s economy depends largely on providing port services to its larger neighbor, Ethiopia, which has a population of over 100 million, over 100 times the size of Djibouthi’s.

According to Mohammed, within five years his office plans to increase the number of tourists coming to Djibouti from the current annual figure of 140,000 to half a million. He added that the government is speaking with Ethiopia about harmonizing the two countries’ tour operation systems. Tadios Tafesse, the owner of Kuriftu Resorts, said there was a good opportunity for Djibouti and Ethiopia to cooperate in the tourism sector.

Egypt Marriott International reinforces commitment to Egypt with launch of Tahseen Hospitality Training Program Marriott International reinforces its commitment to Egypt with the launch of Tahseen, a unique hospitality training program developed in response to a growing need for talent within the industry. Created in partnership with Helwan University and Professional Development Foundation (PDF), the program is focused on fast tracking the next generation of hospitality leaders from Egypt by providing them with firsthand experience and a springboard to launch successful careers in the industry. The company today unveiled the program at a signing ceremony graced by the Honorable Minister His Excellency Khalid Atef Abdul Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Egypt.

Also present at the occasion was Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International, who is on a three-day visit to the country. “Marriott International is a company that believes in putting people first and we are committed to giving our associates the world class training and the opportunity to grow and reach their potential, both personally and professionally. Our vision is to develop future leaders, empowered with the knowledge, skills and opportunities to be successful within the hospitality industry, both regionally and globally. Building a sustainable and robust hospitality education program like Tahseen, that nurtures and builds national talent, is indeed key to our success,” said Sorenson.

8 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

News From Arab Market “Over the last four decades we have worked hard to consciously develop local talent and prepare them to become future leaders in hospitality,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “Today we employ over 10,200 associates across our hotels in Egypt with 99% of them being local Egyptian nationals. Hospitality comes naturally to Egyptians. We therefore saw an opportunity and felt the need to play a more active role in the development of local talent in a formal and structured manner. We are delighted to partner with Helwan University and Professional Development Foundation, for what is truly a pioneering effort in imparting quality hospitality education in the country by opening doors of opportunity for the youth.”

Tahseen, was first launched by Marriott International in Saudi Arabia in 2017 and received very encouraging results paving the way for a wider regional roll out. Egypt is a strategic growth market for the company and was therefore an obvious priority. The company, together with Helwan University and PDF, has created a unique program that supports its commitment to further enhance tourism education in the country. Tahseen, which is set to commence in September 2018, provides the technical training that complements the newly initiated “Hotel Management & Operations” Bachelor’s Degree program created through the joint efforts of the PDF and Helwan University.

“We are very excited to partner with Marriott International to develop a program that is unique to Egypt and helps us bridge the gap between hospitality education and the need of the industry. Given the focus our government has on promoting Travel and Tourism, we are confident we will be able to attract the right talent who have a passion for the industry and create fulfilling careers for them, building leaders of the future that we can all be very proud of,” said Prof. Maged Negm, President of Helwan University.

Tahseen, is a program that falls under Marriott International’s new Sustainability and Social Impact Platform, Serve 360: Doing Good in Every Direction, which guides how the company makes a positive and sustainable impact wherever it does business. From empowerment opportunities to sustainable hotel development, the platform is designed to foster business growth while balancing the needs of associates, customers, owners, the environment and communities. One of the priority areas, or “coordinates”, of Serve 360 is Empower Through Opportunity.

Marriott International is the largest international operator in Egypt with a strong footprint of 18 operating hotels and resorts and more than 7,400 rooms across 7 brands including The Ritz – Carlton, JW Marriott, Le Meridien, Marriott Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Sheraton and Westin. With four hotels in the pipeline, the company will add another 1200 rooms, debuting new brands including St. Regis and Element. By 2020, the hotel giant will have 22 operating hotels with more than 8,600 rooms.

AnadoluJet starts direct flights between Erbil and Diyarbakir, Gaziantep

Iraq Direct flights by AnadoluJet between Erbil and Gaziantep and Erbil and Diyarbakir began with the hope of boosting tourism and economic relations. “As Anadolu Jet, we will contribute from now on so that this city [Erbil], which was designated as the Arab Tourism Capital in 2014 can reach its rightful place among touristic destinations,” Samil Karakas, AnadoluJet chairman, told reporters. With their fleet of 37 airplanes, they have had 50.5 million passengers in 2018, with 72 destinations, added the chairman.

“Connecting Erbil, which possesses a strong economy just like Diyarbakir and Gaziantep, with new flights will steadily accelerate the economy of this region,” added Karakas. The airline is a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines.

They want to build an “air bridge” to eliminate the distance between Erbil and the two provinces with affordable prices, added Karakas. “I believe that our Diyarbakir-Erbil, and Gaziantep-Erbil flights will offer new opportunities for both sides,” added Karakas.

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 9

News From Arab Market Gaziantep and Diyarbakir are located in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority southeast. Diyarbakir, known to Kurds as Amed, is considered the capital of Turkish Kurdistan.

Turkish Consul General to Erbil Hakan Karacay was also optimistic.

“With Anadolu Jets, Gaziantep-Erbil and Diyarbakir-Erbil flights having started today, these cities got connected more closely. Not just the cities, but the people as well,” Karacay added, claiming that their Kurdistan Region “brothers and sisters” are happy with the flights.

The flights will help make “business networking easier and cheaper,” the consul said.“That means we will have more and more exchanges of tradesmen both ways. The flights will have positive impact on touristic visits as well,” he added.

There have been 1.2 million visitors from Iraq to Turkey in last year, revealed Karacay.

Newroz Mawlud, KRG Minister of Municipalities and acting Minister of Transportation and Communications revealed there will be six direct flights per week.

This makes Anadolu Jet the 20th company to provide direct flights with Erbil.

“The arrival of such airlines and the opening of flights between these two cities surely will have a particular importance in the sectors of trade and tourism. It will make cultural and trade exchange stronger,” added Mawlud.

She added this would increase the number of tourists on both sides, hoping this could further be strengthened and improved.

Turkey is an important trade partner with the Kurdistan Region through the Ibrahim Khalil border crossing. The trade volume between Iraq and Turkey, majority of which passes through the Kurdistan Region, stands at more than $10 billion.

Jordan Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, Jordan Completes US$1.5 million Renovation Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea is thrilled to announce the completion of its 1.5 million dollars renovation project for the Ishtar Royal Villas, the only luxury villas in Jordan, offering a new enriching travel experience at the shore of the Dead Sea. The Ishtar Royal Villas at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea are the perfect retreat for those seeking the ultimate luxury and private getaways. It is the ideal sanctuary to relax and indulge in the magnificent views across the Dead Sea, the world’s largest natural spa, which is quite literally on your doorstep. Whether you choose to enjoy the views from your own private infinity-edge swimming pool, outdoor whirlpool or, best of all, on the beach of the Dead Sea, the choice is yours.

“The renovation of the Ishtar Royal Villas enables us to create a new opportunity to design for a luxury experience that is uniquely situated on the shore of the Dead Sea, embedded with Kempinski’s creative offerings and, most importantly, surrounded by the Dead Sea’s wealth of natural beauty,” says Marc Guenther, General Manager.

The designers took inspiration from the Babylonian architectural concept of the hotel and paired it with a streamlined contemporary approach to suit all tastes. Embedded with a homey feeling, relaxing yet luxurious, the different colour schemes of both villas have been chosen to integrate the Dead Sea soil and beach patterns to immerse the elegance of the architecture with the natural beauty of this unique destination.

10 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

News From Arab Market The newly renovated Royal Villas are housed over two open-air floors with a skyline ceiling and oak-wood walls decorated with beautiful patterns to immerse in the overall ambiance. The Villa also boasts three master bedrooms, all with ensuite marble bathrooms featuring deep soaking bathtubs and separate glass-enclosed showers. Also, there are two glass-fronted living rooms with access to large terraces overlooking the Dead Sea; a dining room for up to 12 guests with panoramic view of the Dead Sea and connected to a fully equipped kitchen; outdoor deck with an infinity-edge pool and whirlpool; a garden; and a state-of-the-art entertainment system throughout – you can even listen to your favourite music in surround sound outside whilst having a dip in the pool or relaxing on the beach. Needless to say, a wide variety of personalised services are available to cater to your every need and prepare your special preferences on request. The Royal Villa also provides guests with their own private wellness area. Our personal masseuse will whisk you off for a complimentary massage in the privacy of your own treatment room. Other facilities include a steam room, sauna and shower room.

The award-winning Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea lies gracefully on the shores of the world’s oldest natural spa – the Dead Sea – set amidst gardens dotted with lagoons, waterfalls and private pools. A true haven of wellness and ancient olive trees mingle with palm trees in a most fantastic and stylish fashion. Designed in affectionate tribute to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar features 345 rooms and suites within a stylish Arabesque monument building that weaves clean and simple lines into an Arabian theme.

Kuwait 25,000 new jobs in Kuwait tourism sector Leader’s Group for Consulting and Development General Manager Nabila Al-Anjari hailed the first Kuwait Travelers Forum and its recommendations. Anjari deemed the forum as a national youth initiative that will enhance the culture of tourism. Anjari had taken part in the forum recently organized by the Youth Authority and attended by scores of Kuwaiti travelers and stakeholders. The forum included various activities and came up with recommendations to activate tourism and create an alternative source of national income, facilitate the issue of entry visas, set special touristic programs and utilize social media in promoting Kuwaiti heritage.

In a speech she delivered under the title of ‘Tourism as a Means to Improve Life, Revive Economy and Achieve Strategic Development’, Anjari stressed Leader’s Group’s readiness to cooperate with the ministry of state for youth affairs in such projects and initiatives. Speaking about her own experience in tourism and hospitality, Anjari stressed that tourism is a humane, economic and sociocultural activity. She urged all concerned bodies to promote the concept of ‘Tourism, a Means and Goal’ and utilize tourism in boosting living standards, that will eventually lead to a flourishing economy and integrated strategic development. Anjari stressed a plan has been already set to utilize tourism in creating new sources of income, creating over 25,000 new job opportunities and promote Kuwait as a touristic destination.

Lebanon Lebanon's tourism in 'excellent situation Tourism Minister Avedis Guidanian said Thursday that Lebanon's tourism was in “excellent situation,” in remarks made to local radio station Voice of Lebanon (93.3).

Guidanian said so far in 2019, the country had seen a large number of European tourists, as well as some Arab tourists. He noted that the “total number of tourists in 2018 was over 1,900,000, which is the second best after 2010.”

The minister said he expected an increase in Arab tourists after Saudi Arabia Wednesday lifted its 15-month-old travel warning for Lebanon.

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 11

News From Arab Market Libya Efforts underway to revive tourism in Libya’s Yefren The Libyan Tourism Authority’s technical team as well as a team from Yefren municipality have documented 28 places of archeological heritage.

The media office in Yefren municipality said they had taken photographs of archeological places and touristic sites to revive tourism in the area.

The municipality is also considering issuing a map for the area to help tourism.

Last August, the head of the tourism authority and Yefren mayor discussed the needed efforts to help revive tourism in the area.

Morocco Hilton Opens New Oceanfront Resort in Morocco Set on a pristine beach, a new Hilton hotel opened in Morocco. The new oceanfront hotel becomes the group's third hotel in the country. With its upscale accommodations, beachfront location and extensive range of leisure facilities, Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa is an oasis for relaxation and rejuvenation.

The 304-room Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa is located within a protected national park, offering direct access to five kilometers of idyllic white sandy beach. Tangier, a cosmopolitan port-city on the Strait of Gibraltar, is the embodiment of culture with its UNESCO sights and nearby attractions, such as The Kasbah. Famous for its year-round pleasant weather and beautiful beaches, the city is seeing increasing numbers of visitors every year.

“Morocco is a flourishing tourism destination which welcomed more than 12 million visitors last year[1],” said Rudi Jagersbacher, President, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Hilton. “We are delighted to be expanding our footprint in the country and hope this will continue to support the Moroccan government’s tourism ambition to make Morocco one of the top 20 tourist destinations in the world by 20202.”

Spread across an impressive 850m², the hotel’s eforea spa is equipped with state-of-the-art treatment rooms, a beauty salon, hairdresser, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and a 24/7 gym. For those looking to perfect their swing during their stay, the hotel offers two spectacular golf courses alongside a Golf Academy. With a fantastic kids club on-site along with two outdoor pools, the hotel offers great facilities for families travelling together.

coffee breaks, cocktail receptions and buffets.

The perfect location for any meeting, event or wedding, the hotel boasts 4500m² of flexible event space with capacity for up to 1,400 guests. The hotel offers 15 flexible meeting rooms as well as two pillarless ballrooms. With an expansive foyer that leads to an outdoor terrace, the space is ideal for hosting

The culinary experience is at the heart of the hotel, which boasts five restaurants and bars. Guests can enjoy a variety of de12 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

News From Arab Market licious food options from the hotel’s five dining outlets. The fine dining restaurant, L’Olivier, serves gourmet Mediterranean food. Light bites and creative cocktails are available at the Rose bar in the lobby and poolside snacks are available at Tucano Day & Night Gastrobar, which transforms into a vibrant experience in the evening, with a DJ and selection of tapas available day and night. For a sophisticated lounge experience, guests can visit Cig’Art lounge, which has a collection of premium whiskies, spirits and cigars. Last but not least, the all-day buffet dining restaurant, Argan, serves international cuisine, and room service is available 24/7.

Boasting 304 exquisite rooms and suites, including 50 apartments, all guest rooms feature a blend of Moroccan and international design touches with private balconies overlooking either the Atlantic Ocean or 11 hectares of garden.

“We are excited to introduce Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa to our growing brand portfolio,” said Vera Manoukian, Senior Vice president and global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts. “The opening of this property highlights our commitment to expanding in key destinations across the world, in the world’s most sought-after destinations for guests who know that where they stay matters.”

The hotel is a short drive from Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport, which operates extensive routes to key destinations such as France, Spain and the UK. The resort is also close to highways that link Tangier to Rabat and Casablanca, making it easily accessible. Guests travelling to the resort from within Morocco can also opt to use the new high-speed bullet train, which links Tangier to Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakesh.

Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton's 17 distinct hotel brands. Members who book directly have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi and the Hilton Honors mobile app.

Oman Oman Air introduces more payment options for their customers Demonstrating its continued commitment to providing excellent customer service and a seamless passenger experience. Oman Air passengers based out of India can now purchase their flights with payment options that includes net banking from all major Indian banks, PayTM, Wallets, as well as EMI (Equal Monthly Instalments).

Oman Air officially launched the new options across on both the Oman Air website and mobile app on 5th February this year.

Paul Starrs the CCO of Oman Air stated: “Alternative forms of payment within local markets give us the ability to customize our Oman Air guests can book through these payment options with Indian Rupees as their booking currency across the whole of India.

Last year Oman Air had introduced Alipay, the popular payment system based in China in its online transactions, which was well-received. Oman Air is currently working on activating more forms of payments for its guests across its network to ensure the booking process on our website is made easier and seamless.

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 13

News From Arab Market Qatar VisitQatar Hosts the INFLOW 2019 Summit Powered by Qatar Airways Qatar Airways was the Official Airline Sponsor of the second consecutive Influencers Summit INFLOW 2019, taking place at Sharq Village & Spa in Doha from 20-23 March, in partnership with the Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) and Katara Hospitality.

VisitQatar INFLOW Summit Powered by Qatar Airways 2019 hosted top digital influencers from around the globe, as well as creative digital content producers and leading brands, agencies and marketing professionals across a wide range of industries. The event aims to help marketing professionals enhance their influencer marketing strategy through B2I (Brand to Influencer) meetings, keynote speeches and panels, while also providing influencers the opportunity to expand their network and share the sources of their creative inspiration.

The National Carrier of the State of Qatar flew more than 40 key digital influencers representing of travel, luxury, fashion, gastronomy, and lifestyle to Doha to take part in the conference. Topics to be covered during the summit include the importance of influencer marketing, online marketing strategy, and how to amplify your voice with the power of the influence.

Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Marketing and Corporate Communications, Ms. Salam Al Shawa, said: “The INFLOW 2019 summit represents an excellent opportunity for brands to build their relationships with key influencers, and provides important insights into how to enhance online marketing strategies by incorporating influencers’ voices. The digital platform has been a critical component to increasing Qatar Airways’ brand awareness, and we are delighted to be facilitating travel for so many prominent digital media influencers to Doha for this important industry event, in partnership with Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) and Katara Hospitality.”

Mr. Rashed Al Qurese of QNTC said: “We are delighted to host yet another edition of the VisitQatar Inflow Summit this year, in partnership with Qatar Airways and Katara Hospitality. We have recently set in motion tourism development and promotion plans that focus on curating and delivering bespoke end-to-end experiences to our visitors. We warmly welcome influencers to try these unique and authentic experiences and share them with the world.”

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Open For Culture Arts and culture in Saudi Arabia have been given a major boost with a plan to transform the sector. At a ceremony in Riyadh’s museum district Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s first Minister of Culture, announced that the cultural sector is to be transformed to make it part of people’s everyday lives.

A document entitled “Our Culture, Our Identity” explains how arts and culture will support international exchange and understanding, contribute to economic growth, and will be accessible to all. “Our Culture, Our Identity” sets out several ambitious initiatives that will be supported by the new Ministry. These include a culture fund, scholarship programmes, arts prizes, and a residency scheme for artists to stay in Saudi Arabia.

14 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

News From Arab Market Saudi culture and heritage were celebrated at the event, which was attended by Saudi Government officials, cultural influencers, as well as government representatives from around the world. It included orchestral performances of traditional Saudi music and a dinner hosted by His Highness Prince Badr at the National Museum.

Prince Badr, Minister of Culture, said: “Today marks a turning point in the history of our nation. It is rare that a nation undergoes such a massive revival of its culture. And that is exactly what is happening with the launch of this Ministry.

“The transformation of arts and culture will benefit all Saudis, young and old, from every corner of our country. It will help build bridges of understanding. And for our children we will build a Saudi Arabia where their creative spirits can flourish, confident of their past, stepping out into the future and into the world.”

“Our Culture, Our Identity” can be found on the Ministry of Culture website.

The Ministry of Culture was established by Royal Decree A/217, under the leadership of His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s first dedicated Minister of Culture.

The Ministry was created to act as the guardian of culture, heritage and the arts, creating the conditions for the sector to flourish.

It will support and enable a vibrant Saudi Arabian culture that is true to its past and looks to the future by cherishing heritage and unleashing new and inspiring forms of expressions for all.

The Ministry has a crucial role to play in delivering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious transformation programme, Vision 2030, contributing towards building a vibrant, thriving, and ambitious nation.

Tunisia U.S. Embassy in Tunis Begins Processing Libyan Immigrant Visas The U.S. Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia has been designated as the primary site to process immigrant visas for Libyan nationals residing in Libya.

Due to visa restrictions placed on Libyan nationals by the Government of Morocco, The U.S. Embassy in Casablanca will no longer be a designated site for Libyan nationals residing in Libya.

April 2019 marks the first month the National Visa Center will began scheduling Libyan nationals residing in Libya immigrant visa interviews at U.S. Embassy in Tunis. All impacted applicants will receive a notification with a new case number.

NVC will send appointment notices for all future visa interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Tunis. Once your documentation on your case is complete, NVC will work with the U.S. Embassy in Tunis to schedule an immigrant visa appointment.

When scheduling appointments, we cannot predict when an interview appointment will be available; NVC fills these appointments in a first-in, first-out manner.

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 15

News From Arab Market Turkey Turkey's Tourism Income Increased by 7.1% In the fourth quarter of 2018, Turkey's tourism income increased by 7.1% and reached to US$6 billion 540 million 434 thousand. While 82.6% of this income (excluding GSM roaming and marina service expenditures) was obtained from foreign visitors, 17.4% was obtained from citizens resident abroad, according to the data announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute. Visitors organise their travel individually or with package tour. While individual expenditures constituted US$5 billion 151 million 469 thousand of the total tourism income, US$1 billion 388 million 965 thousand of tourism income was obtained by package tour expenditures. Tourism income in 2018 increased by 12.3% and reached to US$29 billion 512 million 926 thousand compared to the previous year. While 81.8% of this income (excluding GSM roaming and marina service expenditures) was obtained from foreign visitors, 18.2% was obtained from citizens resident abroad.

In this year, while individual expenditures constituted US$22 billion 546 million 616 thousand of the total tourism income, US$6 billion 966 million 311 thousand of tourism income was obtained by package tour expenditures. In this quarter while average expenditure of the foreigners was US$649 per capita, average expenditure of the Turkish citizens resident abroad was US$828 per capita. In this year while average expenditure per capita was US$647, the average expenditure of the foreigners was US$617 per capita, average expenditure of the Turkish citizens resident abroad was US$801 per capita.

In this quarter number of departing visitors increased by 17% compared to same quarter of previous year and reached to 9 million 651 thousand 740 persons. While 85.8% of visitors was foreign with 8 million 283 thousand 235 persons, 14.2% of them was Turkish citizens resident abroad with 1 million 368 thousand 505 persons. In this year, number of departing visitors increased by 18.1% compared to the previous year and reached to 45 million 628 thousand 673. While 85.4% of visitors was foreign with 38 million 951 thousand 902 persons, 14.6% of them was Turkish citizens resident abroad with 6 million 676 thousand 771 persons.

Tourism expenditure which is the expenditure of the Turkish citizens resident in Turkey and visited abroad, decreased by 28.2% compared to same quarter of previous year and declined to US$ 957 million 647 thousand. While US$ 820 million 747 thousand of total expenditures was individual expenditures, US$ 136 million 901 thousand of tourism expenditures was package tour expenditures. In this year, tourism expenditure decreased by 4.7% compared to previous year and declined to US$ 4 billion 896 million 310 thousand. While US$ 3 billion 936 million 986 thousand of total expenditures was individual expenditures, US$ 959 million 324 thousand of tourism expenditures was package tour expenditures.

In this quarter number of Turkish citizens visited abroad decreased by 15% compared to same quarter of previous year and declined to 1 million 853 thousand 45. Average expenditure was US$ 517 per capita. In this year, number of Turkish citizens visited abroad decreased by 5.7% compared to previous year and declined to 8 million 383 thousand 432. Average expenditure was US$ 584 per capita.

Istanbul's New Digital Tourism Project: Visit Istanbul The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Tourism Directorate has launched the Visit Istanbul project in order to promote Istanbul and its values using digital platforms internationally. The project aims to introduce the value of Istanbul in the international area by using digital platforms. In this context, the target countries were identified in order to develop communication strategies. First of all, the target countries that have been studied travel habits extensively are USA, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Gulf Countries, India, and China. In order to increase the brand value of Istanbul, tourism-oriented strategies will be developed and implemented within a year with these determined countries.

16 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

News From Arab Market The first 'History' themed introductory movie of Visit İstanbul project 'Meet With History Of Your Dream City' has been published on project's social media pages. In the movie, including original pieces of music, extremely colorful and magnificent scenes about the monumental history of Istanbul are shown. The next movie will be 'Gastronomy Istanbul' introducing the cuisine of Istanbul.

For the project, four fashion phenomenons of social media have met in İstanbul at the start of the campaign. Laura Comolli from Italy, Barbora Ondrackova from the Czech Republic, Michèle Krusi from Switzerland and Simla Canpolat from Turkey took a full city tour over 3 days and shared images with their followers.

Within the scope of 'Visit İstanbul' which is also known as Turkey's first official city marketing project, world-famous travel stars, notably Jeniffer Tuffen from England, Dotz Soh from Singapore and Umit Yoruk from Turkey, will meet in Istanbul over 5 days between 17-21 March.

Istanbul Ranked 8th At TripAdvisor's Best Destinations for 2019 TripAdvisor® announced the winners of its Travelers' Choice® awards for Destinations, recognizing the locations that are the most popular among TripAdvisor reviewers. Istanbul ranked eighth best destination for travelers in the world for 2019.

London has been named the top destination in the world for 2019, and New York City ranks number one in the U.S. for the ninth consecutive year.

Award winners were determined using an algorithm based on reviews and ratings for hotels, restaurants and experiences in destinations worldwide over a 12-month period. The methodology takes into account quality and volume of reviews to surface destinations that consistently deliver the best overall experience for travelers.

"With more than 156,000 destinations listed on TripAdvisor, travelers can find inspiration and advice on where to stay, what to do and where to eat during every type of trip. The Travelers' Choice awards for Destinations recognize major cities and islands that continue to deliver an outstanding experience and are beloved by our global community of travelers," said Desiree Fish, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor. "For those who want to cross these popular destinations off their travel bucket list, we recommend visiting during off-peak seasons when you can find great savings and less crowds."

Top 10 Travelers' Choice Destinations in the World: London, United Kingdom Paris, France Rome, Italy Crete, Greece Bali, Indonesia Phuket, Thailand Barcelona, Spain Istanbul, Turkey Marrakech, Morocco Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A Mosque To Be Built At Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport As the passenger volume at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport continues to increase, a new mosque will be built for worshippers that use the airport. Expected to open by the end of 2019, the Sabiha Gökçen Airport Mosque will have a capacity to accommodate 2,800 worshippers. The groundbreaking ceremony brought together Justice and Development Party's Istanbul mayoral candidate Binali Yıldırım, Deputy Governor of Istanbul Necip Çakmak, Chairman of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad; Tan Sri Zainun, Chairman of the Boards of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport Investment Development and Operation Inc. Dato’ Mohd Izani bin Ghani and ISG CEO Ersel Göral.

The architecture of a mosque is shaped most strongly by the regional traditions of culture and will have examples of Seljuk architecture. The mosque will have 4 male and female masjids serving their guests 24 hours a day.

18 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

News From Arab Market Oman Air and Turkish Airlines Extend Their Existing Codeshare Agreement Oman Air and Turkish Airlines have revised the codeshare agreement signed earlier. Under the revised agreement, Oman Air will codeshare on Turkish Airlines operating flights to Rome, Copenhagen and Algiers, while Turkish Airlines will codeshare on Oman Air operating flights to Salalah. The codeshare agreement allows guests to benefit from the outstanding products and services offered by both carriers on these routes.

Abdulaziz Al Raisi, Chief Executive Officer, Oman Air commented, “Oman Air is happy and proud to be associating with Turkish Airlines which is a globally recognized network carrier. It is an ideal partner for Oman Air, which has justifiably attracted a reputation for offering the highest levels of comfort, luxury and outstanding service. As we continue to expand globally, codeshare agreements such as this help us spread our wings to newer destinations and bring us more partners and guests.”

Turkish Airlines’ Deputy Chairman and CEO, Mr. Bilal Ekşi expressed, “Witnessing Oman Air`s direct flights to Istanbul within the scope of our existing codeshare agreement has always pleased us. And now extending this agreement in order to further maximize the travel opportunities offered to our passengers through our networks made us more glad. We believe that this enhancement with Oman Air will further explore cooperation opportunities for both airlines together with growing relations between our countries.”

Oman Air and Turkish Airlines currently operate one daily flight each on the Muscat-Istanbul route under reciprocal codeshare agreement. The schedule of these flights are designed to complement each other by allowing same day return trip at Muscat and Istanbul, and offer convenient connections at both hubs through the respective airlines’ network.

Turkish Airlines, a member of Star Alliance, flies to more countries and international destinations in the world than any other airline, currently operates to 306 cities in 124 countries around the world, comprising of 49 domestic and 257 international destinations.

Mandarin Oriental To Open Its Second Hotel In Istanbul, Turkey Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will manage a second luxury hotel in Istanbul, Turkey. The project, which also features branded residences, is scheduled to open in 2022.

The new development comprises three standalone towers and is located in the exclusive Etiler residential area, close to the city’s central business district. One of the towers will house Mandarin Oriental Etiler, Istanbul with 158 guestrooms and suites and 16 serviced apartments. The remaining two towers will house 251 luxurious Residences at Mandarin Oriental. UNStudio from Amsterdam has been appointed as the master planner and architect.

The hotel will have three restaurants and bars, and a selection of adaptable meeting spaces with outdoor areas and terraces, ideal for hosting both business and leisure events. There will also be a spa and fitness center, offering the Group’s award-winning signature wellness programmes as well as locally inspired treatments. The hotel will have both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.

The Residences at Mandarin Oriental will feature some of the most exclusive homes in the city, providing owners with extensive private gardens and impressive views of the Bosphorus. Owners will also enjoy Mandarin Oriental’s legendary service and direct access to the hotel’s facilities. In addition, there will be a full suite of bespoke resident facilities, including two outdoor swimming pools with city skyline views, a fitness center, and six beauty treatment rooms.

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 19

News From Arab Market YOTEL’s First Hybrid Hotel at The New Istanbul Airport Opens As the big move from the old Istanbul Ataturk airport to the new Istanbul Airport completed over the weekend, the new airport is now the main hub of international travel. YOTEL’s first hybrid hotel at Istanbul Airport now welcomes guests through its doors for the first time.

The unique hotel offers 277 cabins before security (YOTEL Istanbul Airport) and 174 cabins after security (YOTELAIR Istanbul Airport). This makes it the innovative brand’s largest airport property to date, ideal for short stays and long transfers. Located inside the airport terminal, it will be the only hotel offering at the airport and in the immediate vicinity.

First launched in London Heathrow and Gatwick, YOTELAIR has become popular among business and leisure travelers alike for its convenient in-terminal locations and adaptable, space-saving design. Its industry-first approach to being bookable by the hour for a minimum of four hours, provides its guests with more convenience and flexibility with their stay.

“Our arrival in the Turkish market highlights an exciting period in our global expansion plan and we are incredibly proud to be part of such a revolutionary project at Istanbul Airport”, said Hubert Viriot, CEO of YOTEL. “This will be our first location to share both the YOTEL and YOTELAIR offering, making it incredibly flexible for the modern traveler looking for the convenience of being only minutes away from check-in and departure gates. We wish the YOTEL team, as well as everyone at this amazing new airport the very best for the future,” continued Viriot.

Keeping in line with YOTEL’s ethos to create stunning social spaces where guests can move seamlessly from work to play, both YOTEL and YOTELAIR properties will boast various KOMYUNITI areas for co-working, dining and relaxing.

YOTEL will have the capacity to hold up to 200 people with facilities including private meeting rooms, a restaurant, bar and GRAB+GO smart vending for guests on the move. The hotel will also feature a state-of-the-art gym for those who like to keep fit on the go. Guests will have 24/7 access to Mission Control where they can make use of the signature airline-style, self check-in kiosks which reduces check-in time to under 60 seconds.

Bora Goymen, General Manager of YOTEL and YOTELAIR Istanbul Airport said, “YOTEL and YOTELAIR Istanbul Airport mark the biggest airport hotel investment seen in Turkey to date. We are incredibly proud to open our first hotel operation in Istanbul and are excited for guests to experience it first hand.”

YOTELAIR can be found after passport control and within the Family Palace zone of the retail area, making it convenient for travelers who want to wake up minutes away from their departure gate or those in transit who wish to make the most of their stay in between flights. Both YOTEL and YOTELAIR will save guests vital time and provide an ideal solution to those in need of a place to sleep, refresh and connect – without having to leave the airport.

Each Premium Cabin is equipped with the YOTEL’s signature space-saving SmartBed™ which reclines from a sofa to a bed at the touch of a button. All cabins feature adjustable mood lighting, a SMART TV to connect your own devices and an en-suite bathroom with a rejuvenating rain shower. Prices for a Premium Cabin will start from €140 per night at YOTEL and €95 for four hours at YOTELAIR. YOTEL currently has 30 hotels in either operation or under development and plans to increase that number to 60 by 2023.

The 26th Istanbul Jazz Festival Announced Its Programme Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) and sponsored by Garanti Bank for 22 years, the Istanbul Jazz Festival will once again host leading names and new discoveries from the world of jazz, as well as the stars of contemporary music between 29 June and 18 July 2019. The festival will feature more than 300 names in 27 different venues around Istanbul.

The 26th Istanbul Jazz Festival will offer a festival experience full of discoveries in June and July with more than 50 concerts 20 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

News From Arab Market featuring veterans and new discoveries of jazz, well-known ensembles and new horizons of contemporary music.

The surprises of the 26th Istanbul Jazz Festival this year include saxophonist, composer, producer and contemporary jazz legend with the group leader identity Kamasi Washington; Michael League's project with sophisticated compositions and groundbreaking improvisation style Snarky Puppy; virtuoso pianist and composer Aydın Esen; the composer and vocal around jazz, R & B and hip-hop genres José James; one of the most inventive musicians of the new generation, producer, composer and drummer Makaya McCraven; a star thanks to the songs he has composed, recorded and played with his own instruments Jacob Collier; one of the leading pianists of contemporary jazz Bill Charlap; another star of the jazz piano Shai Maestro; a pioneer name of the jazz trumpet Paolo Fresu; a Swedish jazz bassist, composer and record producer with his creative musical style Lars Danielsson; jazz singer who masterfully combines jazz, blues and soul melodies Mélanie de Biasio; known with jazz improvisations around reggae, soul, afro-beat and latin rhythms Nubiyan Twist; pianist and composer who captured a modern musical language by combining Azeri folk music with jazz Elchin Shirinov and more…

AnadoluJet Starts Flights from Gaziantep and Diyarbakir to Erbil Turkish Airlines’ subsidiary AnadoluJet started international flights from two southeastern Turkish cities to Erbil in northern Iraq.

Starting with the aim of providing everybody to fly, AnadoluJet operates in 69 routes with 36 aircraft-fleet and 41 airports to meet the air transportation need of Anatolia more economically.

AnadoluJet launches flight from two Turkish cities; Diyarbakir and Gaziantep to Erbil.

Gaziantep - Erbil- Gaziantep and Diyarbakır – Erbil – Diyarbakır flights are planned as 3 flights per week.

Ticket prices are starting from 99 USD exclusive for route opening.

ROUTE DAYS GAZIANTEP>ERBIL THURSDAY ERBIL>GAZIANTEP

THURSDAY

GAZIANTEP>ERBIL

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, SATURDAY

ERBIL>GAZIANTEP

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, SATURDAY

GAZIANTEP>ERBIL ERBIL>GAZIANTEP ROUTE DİYARBAKIR>ERBIL

MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, SATURDAY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, SATURDAY DAYS THURSDAY

ERBIL>DİYARBAKIR

THURSDAY

DİYARBAKIR>ERBIL

TUESDAY, FRIDAY, SUNDAY

ERBIL>DİYARBAKIR

TUESDAY, FRIDAY, SUNDAY

DİYARBAKIR>ERBIL ERBIL>DİYARBAKIR

TUESDAY, FRIDAY, SUNDAY TUESDAY, FRIDAY, SUNDAY

START 21 MARCH 2019 21 MARCH 2019 23 MARCH 2019 23 MARCH 2019 01 APRIL 2019 01 APRIL 2019 START 21 MARCH 2019 21 MARCH 2019 24 MARCH 2019 24 MARCH 2019 02 APRIL 2019 31 MARCH 2019

DEP 10:25 13:45 01:40 04:00 01:40 04:00 DEP 10:40 13:45 01:45 04:00 01:50 04:00

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 21

News From Arab Market Pegasus Airlines launches its third route to the UAE Turkey's leading low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines is adding Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates’ ‘cultural capital’ and a destination on the rise both for leisure and business travelers, to its flight network. Sharjah will be Pegasus’ third low-cost and convenient route to the UAE, as the airline also serves Dubai and Abu

Inbrief Arcan Bayraktaroglu appointed to Hyatt Regency Istanbul Atakoy.

San Clemente Palace Kempinski appoints Alper Can Bulcum.

Hasan Ekmen, appointed as Barceló Hotel Group Turkey General Manager.

Nermin Yurtoğlu, has been appointed to Elite World Hotels’de as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).

Alpaslan Işık named as the general coordinator for the 4 star Koru Hotel at Ankara Çankaya. Özlem Gökşin is the hotel manager of Park Hyatt . Ülkay Atmaca elected as President of Professionals Hotel Managers Ass. (POYD)Hotel .

Wyndham Grand Kayseri has new general manager named Emine Bozkurt. İstanbul Tourist Guides Ads.(IRO) elected Sedat Bornovalı as President.

Murat Cevherioğlu named Regional Director of Sales Middle East & Africa for Kempinski Hotels.

Ercüment Uluçer has the general manager of pre-opening Ajwa Hotel Cappadocia.

Dhabi, with prices for daily flights from London Stansted starting from £149.99.

Pegasus’ daily flights to Sharjah will be launching on 13 December 2018 between London Stansted and Sharjah International Airport via Istanbul, with prices starting from just £149.99. Flights will depart from London Stansted at 10:10, landing in Sharjah at 01:55. The return flight from Sharjah is scheduled at 04:05, arriving in London Stansted at 12:30.

Sharjah is often considered as the UAE’s ‘cultural capital’. Located on the coast of the Arab Gulf, between Dubai and Ajman, Sharjah’s family-friendly, culture, adventure, and eco-tourism attractions offer the ideal winter-sun escape for UK travelers, now available at low fares. Among Sharjah’s main charms, visitors can enjoy pristine white beaches, snorkeling or a safari through the dunes, the Museum of Islamic Civilisation, and the Sharjah Aquarium to name a few.

With the addition of Sharjah to its network, Pegasus now flies to a total of 105 destinations in 40 countries.

Guests can book their flights for the London – Sharjah route on www.flypgs.com/en, and Sharjah hotels on booking.com 22 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

Funda Saka is now general manager of Hampton by Hilton İzmir Aliağa.

Serkan Özer named Egypt Hurgada Makadi Spa, Red Sea. Hakan Aybek is now general manager of Ramada Cappadocia

by WyndamHotels.

Yiğit Sezgin, has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer for Accor Hospitality.

Tamara Ayık has been appointed as the business development manager of Selçuklu Congress Center.

Murat Yıldırım named general manager of Ramada By Wyndham Sivas.

Turgut Güzelöz named as general manager of Antalya Birce Tour.

Dr. Cemil Hakan Kılıç is the new general manager for ICVB –Istanbul Congress and Visitors Bureau.

Oman Air opened Turkey Office in Istanbul and Eda Büyükakkaş is the first Turkey manager.

Erhan Şenol has been appointed as the project manager for Jolly M.I.C.E. Orhan Gökçen is the new general manager of Titanic Mardan Palace.

Rufat Babayev has been appointed as the general manager for Grand Hyatt Istanbul and Park Hyatt Istanbul Hotels.

Ziya Altınay named as the general manager for Ramada Hotel & Suites İstanbul Merter.

Husseyn Atakishiyev is the new general manager of Six Senses Kaplankaya.

Haluk Aksoy has been appointed to Oman Salam Air as GSA manager for Turkey.

Bülent Hasanreisoğlu is the new general manager of Suada Hoteli Rize, Ayder high plateu .

Levent Suyolcuoğlu has been appointed to Kusadası, Pinebay Holiday Resort as general manager. İbrahim Korkut is the new sales director of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in middle East and Africa.. İllter Türkmenoğlu is the new general manager of Doubletree

by Hilton İstanbul Moda.

News From Arab Market UAE ATM 28 April – 1 May 2019 ATM 2019 will welcome more than 100 European exhibitors to the show, with names such as Armani Hotel Milano, the German National Tourism Board, Port Aventura World, the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia and the Austrian National Tourism Office as well as various new exhibitors including Belarus National Tourism Agency, Moscow Committee for Tourism and Montenegro National Tourism Organisation.

Considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, ATM welcomed over 39,000 people to its 2018 event, showcasing the largest exhibition in the history of the show, with hotels comprising 20% of the floor area.

Brand new for this year’s show will be the launch of Arabian Travel Week, an umbrella brand comprising four co-located shows including ATM 2019, ILTM Arabia, CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa – a new route development forum and new consumer-led event ATM Holiday Shopper. Arabian Travel Week will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April – 1 May 2019.

European Visitors to GCC to Increase 29% by 2023 According to a recent research, as many as 8.3 million EU residents will travel to the GCC in 2023, an additional 1.9 million travellers when compared to 2018 arrival figures. Arrivals from Europe to the GCC will increase 29% over the period 2018 to 2023, driven by new and direct flight routes, a growing number of millennial and middle-class travellers and competitive air fares, according to the latest data released by Arabian Travel Market’s research partner, Colliers International.

Adding to this, figures from ATM 2018 show the number of delegates arriving from Europe increased 5% between 2017 and 2018, while the number of delegates, exhibitors and attendees interested in doing business with Europe increased by 24%.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Historically, Europe and the GCC have enjoyed excellent travel and tourism links and this trend is set to continue over the next four years.

“The UAE and Saudi Arabia are expected to continue to be the preferred GCC destinations for European tourists, welcoming a projected 6.15 million and 1.11 million visitors respectively by 2023. Oman will follow with 720,000 visitors, while Bahrain will welcome 310,000 and Kuwait 140,000.”

Driving this demand in the UAE throughout 2018, Emirates introduced new flights to London Stansted, Edinburgh, Lyon and Paris; Etihad to Barcelona; flydubai to Catania, Thessaloniki, Krakow, Dubrovnik, Zagreb and Helsinki; and Air Arabia to Prague. While in Saudi Arabia, new routes to destinations including Vienna and Malaga were added during the same period. Looking at the outbound market potential, GCC travel to EU countries is expected to grow by 50%, with 6 million GCC residents projected to visit Europe by 2023. The Colliers data indicates that Saudi Arabia will lead this growth with 2.98 million KSA residents travelling to Europe in 2023, followed by 1.73 million UAE residents, 600,000 Kuwaitis, 340,000 Bahrainis and 210,000 Omanis.

While part of this growth can be attributed to the UAE and Saudi Arabia’s large expatriate populations, GCC nationals are no strangers to European destinations, its culture and history – as well as its retail and luxury hospitality offerings.

Curtis said: “Saudi Arabia is predicted to retain its position as the largest outbound travel market destination in the GCC, with an additional 1.2 million trips forecasted per year by 2023 – a 70% growth on 2018 trips. Driving this growth will be the rising spending power of both millennials and females in the Kingdom.”

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 23

News From Arab Market Dubai Tourism Launches Sponsorship Scheme for Leisure Events Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing has announced the launch of a new sponsorship scheme to drive continued innovation and sustainability across Dubai’s events industry. Reaffirming Dubai’s position as a global events hub, the scheme is designed to further empower leisure event organizers with additional incentivization opportunities in the form of event sponsorship.

The new process will build on the growth and competitiveness of the city’s event sector, which recorded an increase of over 100,000 ticket sales and 25 additional events in the first quarter of 2019 when compared to the same period last year.

Continuing to effectively showcase Dubai’s proposition as a host city for international events from around the world, the scheme will target entertainment events and will be applicable for events that are ticketed and open to the public, with an eligible leisure event permit. With state of the art venues across the city, Dubai is well placed to compete on the global stage to host international events, as it continues to grow its reputation as a world-leading leisure and entertainment destination.

The scheme will work in conjunction with the Department’s ticketing and permits services to streamline management and coordination of event licensing activities and provide greater operational efficiency.

Dubai Taxi offers 75% discount for passengers arriving through Al Maktoum International Airport RTA’s Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) announced a discount in taxi flag down rate for passengers arriving through Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). The rate will go down by 75% for 45 days from April 16 to May 30, 2019. The step coincides with the upgrading of the Southern runway of Dubai International (DXB) Airport, which will be closed for 45 days for a full renovation of the runway. Accordingly, part of the flights will be diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).

“Lifting passengers from Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) has become faster and cheaper now. The flag down rate has been reduced by 75% from AED 20 to AED 5 for passengers using DTC taxis. The step coincides with Dubai International (DXB) Airport’s Southern Runway upgrading; which will last 45 days (16 April-30 May). During this period, passengers’ traffic at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) is expected to rise by as much as 700%,” said Dr. Yousef Mohammed Al Ali, CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation.

“We have also introduced a shared taxi service at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC); which will reduce the fare for arriving passengers. As such, it is now possible for more than one rider to share a taxi from Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) to multiple destinations. The step will ease the mobility of passengers, reduce the waiting time and save expenses. The move is part of our excellent operation strategy and DTC’s commitment to enrich the experience of clients and live up to their expectations,” he added.

Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomes Himalaya Airlines Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) welcomed Himalaya Airlines’ inaugural flight from Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), an international airport in Kathmandu, Nepal on Sunday, 31st March. Himalaya Airlines launched three weekly flights connecting Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu, Nepal.

Maarten De Groof, Chief Commercial Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We are delighted to add Himalaya Airlines to our growing list of carriers operating at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Nepal has always been a sought-after destination for UAE residents, and the UAE is also home to many Nepali expatriates. We look forward to ensuring passengers departing for, or arriving from Nepal enjoy a seamless travel experience.“We are eager to introduce new flights and routes to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport, in line with our efforts to expand Abu Dhabi’s connectivity and support commerce and tourism within the UAE,” added De Groof.

Himalaya Airlines will operate the route using its Airbus 320 aircraft, which includes 8 Premium Economy seats and 150 Economy Class seats in its current configuration. On Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, flights are scheduled to depart from Kathmandu at 20:45 and arrive at Abu Dhabi at 23:45. Returning flights to Kathmandu are scheduled to depart from Abu Dhabi on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 01:45 and arrive at Kathmandu at 08:00.

24 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

IBTM Arabia 2019

IBTM Arabia ‘19 is a 3 day invitation only MICE event for the Middle East and North Africa IBTM Arabia, part of IBTM’s global portfolio of meetings and events industry trade shows,organized from March 25-27, 2019, at Jumeirah Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi.

This year IBTM Arabia was a success for exhibitors and Hosted Buyers. A one-to-one ratio of international and regional buyers to exhibitors and a mutual match appointment system allowed both exhibitors and 75 global Hosted Buyers to create a diary of up to 30 appointments with the business leads they identified.

This year’s event, which marked 13th year anniversary of Ibtm Arabia and took place at the 5-star Jumeirah at Etihad Towers from the 25-27 March, brought buyers and suppliers of MICE products from MENA countries together and resulted in over 3,000 meetings over the three days.

IBTM Arabia is run with the support of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA), Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau and Etihad Airways.

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 25

Cover Story

Adana, Amazing Tourism City Adana is a noteworthy city in southern Turkey. Adana lies in the core of Cilicia, a geo-social district privately known as Cukurova. Home to six million individuals, Cilicia is one of the biggest populace focuses in Turkey, and additionally the most horticulturally beneficial region, inferable from its expansive stretch of level, fruitful land. The brilliant age for the engineering of Adana was the late fifteenth and sixteenth hundreds of years when Ramadanid territory picked Adana as their capital. The city developed quickly amid that period with numerous new neighborhoods being constructed. The vast majority of the verifiable milestones of Adana were worked amid this period, in this manner Mamluk and Seljuqid engineering are prevailing in Adana's design history.

Adana has numerous parks and gardens. Attributable to the warm atmosphere, and gardens are open throughout the entire year without the need of winter support. Recreational pathways on the two banks of Seyhan waterway cross the whole city from south end to Seyhan Reservoir. Pathway at that point interfaces with Adnan Menderes Bouled which takes after the southern shores of Seyhan Reservoir, and the wide walkways of the street stretch out the pathway toward the west end of the supply. Dilberler Sekisi is the most picturesque piece of the pathway which is along the west bank, in the middle of the old and the new dam.

Recreational pathway along the north side of the Grand Canal goes from east end to west end of the city, crossing Seyhan stream from old dam's pathway.

Main events of Adana International Adana Film Festival previously known as AltÄąn Koza International Film Festival is a film festival of Adana, that was held 17 times since 1969 and took place every year since 2005. The event is organized by the Adana Metropolitan Municipality and takes place in June. Beginning from 2006, the scope of the festival is broadened to an international 26 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

Cover Story dimension within the framework of the cinema in Mediterranean basin countries.

The festival, taking its name from cotton boll, the traditional crop grown in the region, includes national feature films along with international short subjects and student films of young Mediterranean filmmakers April is an amazing month in Adana. Spring arrives earlier to this town than it does to most other parts of the country. Early april, when the scent of the charming orange flowers dominate the city and seduce the people of Adana, they now also know that the most looked forward event of the year is soon to arrive. The Orange Blossom Carnival!

Where to visit Adana Cinema Museum Adana Cinema Museum is a museum in Adana, Turkey devoted to the silver screen of Turkey, specifically in connection with chiefs, performers and makers local to the city. Set up in 2011 out of a restored old Adana house, the exhibition hall is arranged on the west side of Seyhan River. The ground floor of the gallery is held for the film publications. No less than one name in the publication has a place with a national of Adana. In the main floor, there is a room displaying the photographs, motion picture blurbs and possessions of the prestigious Turkish on-screen character Yalmaz Guney.

There are life-measure figures of Yalmaz Guney, painter Abidin Dino and creator Orhan Kemal. Photographs and relics in plain view of other surely understood individuals from Adana related with silver screen are essayist Yasar Kemal, on-screen character Sener Sen and his dad performing artist Ali Sen, Muzaffer Izgu, Ali Ozgenturk, Orhan Duru, Aytac Arman, Bilal Inci, Meral Zeren, Menderes Samancalar, Nurhan Tekerek and Mahmut Hekimoglu. There is likewise a library in the gallery. The historical center likewise serves guests with an individual film screening module, where remarkable works of Turkish silver screen can be viewed. Guests can see any Yesilcam film and get data about the film in the document and library of the exhibition hall.

Ataturk Museum Ataturk Museum shows War of Independence and the primary long stretches of Republic at the manor, Ataturk remained amid his excursions to Adana. Neglecting to the Seyhan River, the historical center is situated on Seyhan Street and it is available to open each day aside from Mondays. Ataturk's visit to Adana is authoritatively celebrated in this building each year on 15 March. The historical center building was worked in the nineteenth century as a house by Subhi Pasha. Ataturk and his significant other remained in this house amid their visit to Adana on March 15, 1923.

The building was seized and reestablished by the "Ataturk Scientific and Cultural Conservation and Revival Society", under the direction of Army Corps authority Bedrettin Demirel with the gifts from network.

The museum building is one of the customary line places of Tepebag. A two-story structure is worked of block and stone with cove windows and pitch rooftop. In light of its unconventional attributes, it is named "Social Real Estate under Conservation" by the Ministry and saved in its unique state. At the ground floor, there is the investigation room and the library. In the examination room, the daily papers Yeni Adana, Turk Sozu, Cukurova and Dirlik which were distributed amid and after the Independence War, are shown. In the library, about two thousand books, written in Ottoman and Turkish are in plain view. The greater part of the books are acquired by gifts.

Sabanci Central Mosque Sabanci Central Mosque in Adana is the biggest mosque in Turkey. The outside of the mosque is like the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, however it has six minarets, like the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul. The mosque, which went into benefit in 1998, was built upon a reallocated Armenian burial ground. It is based on a sum of 52,600 square meters of land and has a shut region of 6,600 square meters. Sabanci Central Mosque was constructed together by Turkish Religious Foundation and Sabanci Foundation.

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 27

Sabanci Central Mosque is based on the crossing point of the fundamental supply routes, railroad lines and streets that associate Adana to the encompassing urban areas and towns, has nearly turned into the image of the city with its high minarets noticeable from anyplace in the city. The Mosque, which has an ability to offer support of 28,500 individuals, is well known for being one of the greatest mosques in the Balkans and in the Middle East. The Mosque has all offices including 4 classrooms, 10 itikaf rooms, rooms of imam and muezzin, dialog rooms and the wellspring.

The greater part of the calligraphic works in the Mosque have a place with the Calligrapher Huseyin Kutlu. The tile work of the Mosque has been finished by utilizing Iznik tile work procedure. Four major boards confronting Kiblah are the world's greatest mosque boards in estimate. All work of art and tile designs in the Mosque have a place with Architect Nakkas M. Semih Irtes. The specialty, lectern, stage, entrance and different entryways are altogether made of marble and they have been planned in the style that is found in traditional Ottoman mosques and have been worked by Nihat Kartal.

Merkez Park Merkez Park is a 33-hectare urban park that is situated on the two banks of the Seyhan River in Adana.The bigger part of the recreation center, 30 hectares, is on the west bank. Merkez Park begins only north of Sabanca Mosque and stretches out north to Galleria Shopping Mall. On the west of the recreation center there is Fuzuli Street. On the east bank, the recreation center begins north of the Sheraton Hotel and stretches out north to the Acqualand Entertainment Center. On the east, the recreation center is flanked with Haca Sabanca Bouled. Sinanpana and Yavuzlar footbridges associate the two segments of the recreation center.

Merkez Park is all around arranged and conveys a wide assortment of trees and plants in an open idea. There are 67 types of trees and shrubs, 40 types of prickly plants, sweet-smelling and ground covering plants. The quantity of aggregate plants surpass 400 thousand. A portion of the plants that were brought from Italy are molded as creature figures. Inside the recreation center there are 12 lakes and a 2.2-hectare play area for kids including the debilitated. At the segment for the young there is a skating court, ground chess and smaller than expected amphitheater. Review porches are based on a more elevated amount and there are additionally round formed resting patios. There are likewise 3 km running and cycling ways between the recreation center and Fuzuli Street.

Buyuk Saat Buyuk Saat is a recorded check tower in Adana and the tallest check tower in Turkey, rising 32 m high. It is situated in the old town on Ali Munif Caddesi.

It was planned by Armenian engineers Krikor Agha Bzdikian and Kasbar Agha Bzdikian. The development of Buyuk Saat was begun in 1879 by the senator Ziya Pasha and it was finished by the succeeding representative Abidin Pasha in 1882, as an image of modernization. The two Armenian modelers, Krikor Agha Bzdikian and Kasbar Agha Bzdikian, were in charge of its plan. Leader Haca Yunus additionally made a noteworthy commitment to the development.

Buyuk Saat was developed as a square crystal, and its pinnacle dividers were worked with blocks. The pinnacle has a stature of 32 m , however the profundity of the establishments is believed to be much more profound, at 35 m.

There were gossipy tidbits that the water that springs from the establishments had recuperating powers. Amid the time of its development, comparable clock towers were likewise worked in the other huge urban areas of the Ottoman Empire.

Buyuk Saat was the most noteworthy of all, the second-most astounding being the Dolmabahce Clock Tower in Istanbul. The development of the Buyuk Saat made the inhabitants' life less demanding by enhancing their timekeeping. Consistently, the boisterous ringer of the pinnacle, which could be gotten notification from most areas of the city, would ring. After the development of the pinnacle, the city's authorities masterminded their available time as indicated by the time given by Buyuk Saat.

28 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

Yag Mosque Yag Mosque is a recorded mosque situated in the old town of Adana at Alimunif Street. Evliya Celebi likewise says an old church that used to exist. The mosque was worked in 1501 on the vestiges of the congregation by Ramazanoglu Halil Bey and named initially Eski Mosque. Afterward, his child Piri Mehmet Pana has constructed its minaret in 1525 and its madrasah in 1558. The mosque later wound up known as Yag Mosque because of the oil bazaar that was only alongside it.

Yag Mosque is worked in the Seljukid Grand Mosque style. The supplicating territory has a rectangular shape and it is part into five naves with four lines of sections. The mihrab of the mosques is the apsis that stayed from previous church. The door of the mosques is of yellow and dark hued stone and is an imperative show-stopper. The Yag Mosque Medrese is situated in the patio of the mosque. There are classrooms, cells and a kitchen in the madrasah. Classrooms are secured with vaults and cells have support curves. Arcades before the cells are awesome examples of wooden work of art. Tourists come here from all over the world with their family members and friends.

Kozan Castle Kozan Castle is a citadel of Kozan, Adana Province, Turkey. The castle is situated concerning a 400m 1,300 ft. There is no record over fortifications at the web site formerly in accordance with the Byzantine period. In 705 an Arabian nation assault concerning the town used to be repelled, however its Christlike population opposite deserted the agreement or Sis grew to be a fortified march submit of the Abbasid's. Almost all of the fortress dates beyond the period concerning the Armenian kingdom, the main possible exceptions existence a vaulted ingress hall who should remain a Mamluk-era construction and who carries an Arabic inscription, and past that hall yet at the late of the Armenian-constructed important entrance, a simpler approach that might also have been the unique Byzantine entry to the site.

Inside the fortress are the remains on twain Armenian chapels, each in all likelihood beside the 13th century. Both are heavily ruined, certain is located between the medium imbue about the castle, the lousy intimate a semicircular tower into the past dike concerning the southeast bailey. The fort consists about twins sections among a single outer rampart.The inward fort is within the wicked section.

The royal house on the Armenian kings was once a detach fortified shape located simply beneath the castle. It was once dilapidated into 1375 at some stage in the Mamluk counteraction then seize of Sis. Two nook towers about its donjon continue to be adjustable.

Near to Adana Kozan Kozan is a city in Adana Province, Turkey, 68 kilometers upper east of Adana, in the northern segment of the Cukurova plain. The city is the capital of the ilce area of Kozan. The Kilgen River, a tributary of the Ceyhan, moves through Kozan and crosses the plain south into the Mediterranean. The Taurus Mountains ascend pointedly behind the town. Sister was the capital of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, the present Sis antiquated city, now called Kozan Kalesi, was based on a long rough edge in the focal point of the cutting edge city.

The number of inhabitants in the city has developed quickly as of late, from 15,159 of every 1960, to 54,451 out of 1990, to 72,463 out of 2007 and to 74,521 out of 2009 statistics figures. Today demolishes of places of worship, religious circles, chateaux and castles might be seen on all sides. The grand manor and the religious community and church worked by Leo II, and containing the crowning ritual seat of the lords of Cilician Armenia, were as yet significant up until the Armenian Genocide. These days they are at the focal point of a fight in court between the Armenian Catholic.

Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019 | 29

Cover Story Ceyhan Ceyhan is a city and an area in the Adana Province, in southern Turkey, 43 km east of Adana. With a populace of more than 157,000, it is the biggest area of the region, outside the city of Adana. Ceyhan is the transportation center point for Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Russian oil and gaseous petrol. The city is arranged on the Ceyhan River that courses through Cukurova plain. The Ceyhan River is dammed at Aslantas to give surge control and water system to the lower waterway bowl around Ceyhan.

Ceyhan's marine transport terminal is the Mediterranean end of the Baku– Tbilisi– Ceyhan pipeline the "BTC" which brings unrefined petroleum from the landlocked Caspian Sea crosswise over Azerbaijan and Georgia, and entering Turkey in the upper east. The pipeline was finished in May 2005. The terminal contains seven stockpiling tanks, a breakwater equipped for stacking two tankers of up to 300,000 tons deadweight DWT all the while, metering offices, a waste water treatment plant and vapor cremation "consume off " offices.

Spots of intrigue: The Caravanserai of Kurtkulagi- worked in 1659 by Huseyin Pasa, designer Mehmed Aga. Tumlu Kale or Dumlukale - another manor.

Sirkeli Hoyuk - worked to honor a fight here between Hittite ruler Muvattali and the Egyptian pharaoh Rameses.

Karatas Karatas is a little city and a locale in Adana Province, on the Mediterranean bank of Turkey, 47 km from the city of Adana, between the streams of Seyhan and Ceyhan, the Pyramos of Antiquity. The city of Karatas has a populace of 8,483 in 2010, with another 13,000 living in encompassing towns. Today Karatas is referred to for its angling industry and as a place that Adana's occupants can without much of a stretch access to unwind on the shoreline.

There are rich farmlands behind the drift where cotton, watermelons, melons and different harvests are developed. The outstanding footballer Hasan Sas is from Karatas and has a road named after him in memory of his astounding execution for Turkey national football group amid the 2002 World Cup. Spots of intrigue: The vestiges of chapels, caravanserai, and an amphitheater. Anyway the old landmarks stay to date in absence of appropriate research or protection.

The bay of Akyatan is a rearing ground for some winged creatures and the ocean turtle species Chelonia mydas and caretta.

Karatas is especially essential for the last mentioned, or, in other words species that lays eggs fundamentally in Akyatan, another shoreline in neighboring Yumurtalik area and Iztuzu Beach in Dalyan in southwestern Turkey.

Pozanti Pozanti is a town and an area in the Adana Province of Turkey. The town is the at the good countries of Cukurova, and is the significant door to the Mediterranean coasts. Pozanti remains in the lower regions, at the base of an uncommon go through these high mountains. The leader is Mustafa Cay MHP. In olden times it was Pendonsis or Pendosis. To the Arabs El Bedendum lastly Bozanti and Pozanti in Turkish. Pozanti is blustery and disheartening and for a large portion of this history was a post and a street house, however when the railroad was placed through in 1917 more individuals started to live here for all time. Yet at the same time the place truly lives from the passing exchange out and about.

Spots of intrigue: The main authentic working in the downtown area is the mosque and wellspring of Ottoman general Cemal Pasa, worked 30 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

Cover Story in 1919 and since repaired and broadened. At the passage to the pass are the old and new strongholds of Anahsa.

On the slope called Tekir, alongside the advanced expressway D-750 , the Casemates of Ibrahim Pasha, the remaining parts of a 19th century fortress are arranged. Close to the town of Ascibekirli lie the remnants of the Byzantine town of Fenese.

More destroys have been found close to the town of Kamisli in the high knolls yayla of Oren and Asar.

Karaisali Karaisali is a little city and a region in Adana Province of Turkey, officially a piece of the Metropolitan Municipality of Adana. The territory contains the supplies of Catalan and Nergizlik. There is a wrestling competition in late-April to early-May at Salbas and a field celebration in the most recent 7 day stretch of August at Kizildag.

The city was not possessed amid the Turkish War of Independence in the mid 1920s and turned into a focal point of Turkish obstruction for the Cukurova zone. You can come here and explore this place.

Spots of intrigue: The Roman assembled Milvan Castle in the town of Karakilic. The silk street caravanserai Kesiri Han in the town of Altinova. Another Roman palace Keci Kalesi 40 km north-east of Karaisali in the town of Etekli. has instructing sees from its slope top position. The lush slope excursion zones of Yerkopru and Kizildag specifically Kapikaya Canyon. The appealing remote town of Kalaycilar. 7 km from the town of Hacilion a soil street. Turkey's most astounding extension, the 172 m 564 ft long and 93 m 305 ft high German assembled railroad viaduct Varda Bridge in the town of Hacikiri Kiralan. The Fish eatery in Demircit or also called Bolagat.

Saimbeyli Saimbeyli is a little city and an area in Adana Province, Turkey in the Cukurova district. The city of Saimbeyli is situated in the Taurus mountains, 157 km north of the city of Adana, by means of a satisfactory street. The city had a populace of 4,010 of every 2012. The city of Saimbeyli is on the Goksu waterway one of the wellsprings of the Seyhan, in a valley between the forested heaps of Dibek and Bakir. There is a go through the mountains from here to Kayseri and the valley is watered by numerous mountain streams. The zone most likely has the establishments of Hittite settlements. There is no proof at present that it was possessed in the Roman time frame, yet it appears to be likely. The fortification of Saimbeyli might be the medieval Badimon or maybe the mansion of Berdus, which shows up on the Coronation List of King Levon I in A.D. 1198.

This fortification, which monitors the vital street between Kayseri toward the north and the Rubenid manor of Vahka toward the south, remains on an outcrop at the intersection of two valleys and two tributaries of the Seyhan River. The arrangement and brick work of Saimbeyli's manor are indistinguishable to the military engineering in the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia and without a doubt date from the mid-12th century to the 13th century.

Yumurtalik Yumurtalik is a little city and a region in Adana Province of Turkey. It was once in the past called Aegeae, Ayas or Laiazzo. It is a Mediterranean port at a separation of around 40 km from Adana city. Yumurtalik's populace does not surpass 5,000 in winter, but rather in summer, it ascends to 30 to 40,000 individuals since numerous occupants of Adana have occasion homes here.

There are likewise numerous day by day guests amid the Christmas season.

Yumurtalik has a substantial free monetary zone lodging the creation units of up 30 organizations directly in task or in period of being fabricated. Fields of exercises incorporate enterprises running from petrochemicals, engineered strands and steel industry, and there are additionally gets ready for setting up a noteworthy shipyard. Various shorelines in Yumurtalik are likewise the settling places for loggerhead ocean turtle caretta breed. Truth be told the measure of shoreline front occasion property is likewise part of the issue, despite the fact that the sand is perfect the turtles won't lay eggs in these bustling shorelines with neon-lit discotheques impacting out throughout the night. Various shorelines in Yumurtalik are likewise the settling places for loggerhead ocean turtle caretta breed.

32 | Arab & Turkis Travel Magazine | May 2019

AKUETS SAV

LIVES

Text AKUT to 2930, donate 10TL and save a life yourself.

AKUT yaz 2930’a gönder, 10TL bağış yap, bir can da sen kurtar!

akut.org.tr twitter.com/AKUT_Dernegi

facebook.com/AKUT

instagram.com/AKUT_Dernegi

youtube.com/akut

akut.web.tr

FOTOĞRAF SERGİSİ PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION:

YILDIZ MORAN

BİR DAĞ MASALI A MOUNTAIN TALE 24 KASIM NOVEMBER 2018 12 MAYIS MAY 2019

SERGİ SPONSORU EXHIBITION SPONSOR

İSTANBUL MODERN SANAT MÜZESİ ISTANBUL MUSEUM OF MODERN ART Asmalımescit Mah., Meşrutiyet Cad., No: 99 Beyoğlu, İstanbul T +90 (212) 334 7300

www.istanbulmodern.org