Cappadocia district attracts investors in tourism industry

Nevşehir's Uçhisar district is currently experiencing a tourism boom. The transformation of houses and mansions from the late Ottoman and Republican periods into boutique hotels, restaurants and other tourist facilities turn the district into a tourism magnet, says Mayor Mustafa Zühal

NEVŞEHİR - Doğan News Agency

Tourism investments made in a popular district of the central Anatolian city of Nevşehir over the last four years has created employment for more than 700 people.

Tourism has become a considerable source of economic strength for Uçhisar district, said Uçhisar Mayor Mustafa Zühal. �The number of people employed in boutique hotels currently under construction and in other tourism facilities will soon exceed 1,000,� he added.

Zühal said Uçhisar's Cappadocia region has succeeded in becoming a popular tourism spot due to its fairy chimneys, dovecotes and tranquil natural scenery. Noting that the transformation of houses and mansions from the late Ottoman and Republican periods into boutique hotels, restaurants and other tourist facilities has turned the district into a tourism magnet, Zühal said those facilities also attract investors in the tourism industry to the region.

Zühal said the concept of the �boutique hotel� was an important starting point for cultural tourism in 2004, adding, �At the same time, some 400 houses from the Ottoman and early Republican periods that were about to collapse but could not be restored due to financial problems and were taken under protection. They have also become a kind of smokeless industry in the region.�

Zühal said the municipality has made things easier for tourism investors like Mustafa Çankaya, who started running the Cappadocia and Cave Resort four years ago, along with other investments like the Kaya Hotel, the Yüksel Rug Company, the Cappadocia Handicrafts Center and the Rota Tourism Rug Company.

�Investors have found their employees through loudspeaker announcements. They employ many young people from Uçhisar. They still make announcements to find new employees. There is not a single unemployed young person in the district at the moment. We have lots of business opportunities for those who want to work.�

He said not only young people work in the industry, but local women can also work for tourism-related companies after sending their children to school. �People from the surrounding cities and villages, and even from Ankara, Istanbul, Adana, İzmir and Kayseri also contribute to the tourism movement in the region.�

Uçhisar's current official population is 3,422, but this number is likely to exceed 3,800 within a year, said Zühal. �We expect that the number of people employed will be more than 1,000 in the district with the opening of the Hilton Hotel and other boarding houses, restaurants and stores, which are still under construction,� he said.

Zühal noted that former Health Minister Bülent Akarcalı and former Labor Minister İmren Aykut, who came to the region to explore tourism developments, also bought houses and began restorating them. �Akarcalı's house will serve as boutique hotels as well. Some artists, businessmen and politicians are also planning to buy summer houses in the region,� he added.

Inform,02.06.08

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New hotel investments to boost tourism in Gaziantep

GAZİANTEP - Anatolia News Agency

The problem of insufficient accommodation facilities in the southeastern province of Gaziantep, which has significant tourism potential due to its historic and natural beauties, will be solved with 11 hotels, which are under construction in the city center.

According to information provided by the Gaziantep Provincial Tourism Directorate, the construction of four five-star hotels, two four-star hotels, two three-star hotels, a two-star hotel and a special facility with 94 beds is ongoing in the city. The construction process is expected to end by 2009 at the latest.

Fames Hotel, Gaziantep's third five-star hotel, which is being constructed by Zafer Hotel Management in Nesimi neighborhood, has a capacity of 144 rooms and 298 beds. The five-star Anatolian Hotel in Gazi Muhtar Paşa neighborhood is being constructed by Kısacıklar A.Ş. and has a 90-room, 263-bed capacity, as well as 21 suites. Dedeman Hotel, under construction in Aktoprak neighborhood, will consist of 139 rooms, two rooms for the handicapped, 46 suites, a king size room and 456 beds. The hotel's construction company is Çağlar Patrol. Among these hotels, Anatolian Hotel is scheduled to open next month.

Divan Hotel, constructed on the Silk Road in Mücahitler neighborhood, will have 102 rooms, including two for the handicapped and 16 suites. The hotel will have the capacity to host 1,460 guests.

The four-star Uğur Plaza, constructed by Uğur Ticaret A.Ş. in İncilipınar neighborhood, will have 272 beds, 116 rooms, 12 suites and two rooms for the handicapped. Among other hotels under construction River Park Hotel is to have 35 beds, Celal Saygılı Hotel - 24 beds, four-star Nova and three-star Ibis, which are constructed in the fair area, will have 264 beds each.

Great interest from local and foreign groups

Gaziantep Culture and Tourism Provincial Director Salih Eflioğlu said Gaziantep currently had two five-star hotels, five four-star hotels, seven three-star hotels and 11 two-star hotels with a total capacity of 3,500 beds.

He said the city's need would not be met even when the current constructions are finished. Noting that the city of Gaziantep was a brand and the rising star of Anatolia, Eflioğlu continued, �The city's position in the field of industry and trade has been strengthened with the Southeastern Anatolian Project, or GAP. Economic and social development brought health, fair, culture and business tourism sectors customers to town. It also influenced local gastronomy, culture and tourism. But without the completion of physical infrastructure, it is not possible to become a real tourist center. In recent years international hotel chains have shown great interest in Gaziantep, which is going through a process of urbanization. This is an important development.�

Eflioğlu mentioned that Gaziantep has become popular among local, but not foreign tourists. He said foreigners would prefer to stay in ancient cities like Rumkale, Yesemek, Kargamış Ruins and Zeugma. �Currently, the occupancy rate is full in all hotels. We need to increase bed capacity as soon as possible. When Fıvat River basin opens to tourism and constructions start there, promotional activities should be carried out well.�

He noted that international hotel chains showed great interest in Gaziantep to meet the need for accommodation. �Kaya Ramada, Hilton and Koç groups are looking for places for new hotels. Particularly, Koç group is planning a big investment in the region. The group came to Gaziantep 15 days ago and visited the Fırat River Basin. It will announce its decision later. Investors do not invest without being sure of profit. Now the city's bed capacity is increasing to 8,000 from 3,500. There is a 100 percent growth in the sector. This is a world record. Our goal is to increase the bed capacity to 10,000.�

Eflioğlu said investors began to choose Gaziantep for their new investments, adding, �This is a rapid growth and we have begun to take measures. We have started certified tourism programs with the Bosporus University. We are also giving 170-hour courses at Gaziantep University.�

Inform,29.05.08

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