German promotes Hatay to the world

BRANDT FAMILY:German engineer Karsten Brandt with his wife,Zeliha ,and his son. He invites Europeans to visit Turkey through his Web site in three languages. The couple say they are ready to do whatever they can to contribute to Hatay's popularity.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

German meteorology engineer Karsten Brandt, who bought a property in the southern city of Antakya after falling love with its natural beauty and historical value, invites Europeans to visit Turkey through his Web site, set up in three different languages

HATAY - Anatolia News Agency

After spending his holidays in Hatay, a German meteorology engineer fell in love with the natural beauty and historical value of the southern province and decided to buy a property there. Now Karsten Brandt works from Antakya and invites Europeans to visit Turkey through his Web site, set up in three different languages.

Brandt said when he came to Antakya for his first holidays five years ago he immediately became an admirer of this place. He was accompanied by his wife, Zeliha, who is originally Turkish, from eastern Malatya.

The opportunity to travel to different parts of Turkey persuaded to Brandt that Hatay, with its windy weather even in the hottest summer months and historical and natural beauties, was a truly “magnificent city” and the best place to be. The city's lack of popularity and minimal advertising campaign then motivated him to act.

Brandt and his wife researched how they could contribute to city's popularity and bring more visitors there. “First of all, I bought a house here. We started coming to Turkey with my wife and children at least four times a year. I explored and photographed the areas I would like to introduce to the world and then set up the Web site www.antakya.tv five months ago. The Web site, describing beauties of Antakya in Turkish, German and English, will be also available in Arabic soon,” said Brandt. The site administrators receive e-mails from around the world, mostly from the United States, admiring Antakya and asking for information about holidays there. The site gives detailed and daily updated information about places to see, important events, and weather forecasts.

Web site followed by a book

Preparations for a book that will be for sale online next year are already in progress. “It is a big loss that not enough introduction has been done so far despite all the city's characteristics, such as the world's second biggest mosaic museum or the first cave church. In order to overcome this absence I will publish an introductory book besides the Web site. My aim is to draw everyone's attention,” said Brandt.

Hatay also hopes to organize tours from various countries among his plans. Money is not, however, a primary motivation for him. The idea is to make sure everyone sees Hatay at least once in a lifetime.

Zeliha Bradnt said she is proud of her husband of nine years. Together they are ready to do whatever they can to contribute to city's popularity, she added.

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