Tag Archives: tURKEY

With the established presence in the Turkish taxi market, GetTransfer.com is launching its taxi service to fill the market need in connecting drivers and passengers in the best conditions for both parties. GetTransfer.com will charge only 5% commission of its drivers for rides, which is 8X lower than 39% – the efficient median for aggregators. Alexander Pershikov states, “The uncertain economic and social global landscapes are disrupting many industries and markets. To sustain travel and transportation for people around the world, we seek a solution that is beneficial to both parties. We want people to travel at very good prices with very good drivers, without the stress of worrying about car rides, at the same time we want to support drivers and reward them for their time and labor.” Just in time for the high season – the new taxi finding tool will deal with the increase in short-distance transfer demand and tourist influx, keeping the situation in the transportation business stable despite the growing uptake. With the advanced IT technology, GetTransfer.com offers the best way to link clients and drivers. Based on the minimal input information, the system tailors each offer individually for every client and ensures the best prices. The accessibility of the service is also highly valued. Getting a taxi with GetTransfer.com is easy and safe, with the system covering the owner check, car characteristics, and ratings. The newly introduced mobile application allows travelers from all over the world to rent even more conveniently from their smartphones. Collaborating with GetTransfer.com is advantageous for drivers as well. The system provides them with a smooth workflow and stable income. GetTransfer.com charges a very low commission from drivers – It …

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts announced the launch of the Wyndham Garden brand in Turkey with the opening of the 346-room Wyndham Garden Lara, a stylish property located in one of the country’s most desired seaside destinations. The brand is set to further expand with an additional Wyndham Garden opening in Diyarbakır, the largest city in South East Turkey, expected next month. With amenities that are designed for ultimate comfort and convenience, cosy lounges, abundant natural light and flexible meeting spaces, Wyndham Garden takes care of all the little details to give guests peace of mind. The latest addition marks the ninth brand entry by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in Turkey and further cements the company’s position as the largest international hotel company by number of properties in the country, with over 90 operational hotels. Wyndham Garden Lara offers a wide range of amenities including well-appointed guest rooms with balconies, an outdoor pool, a fitness centre with a tennis courts, access to the nearby Lara Beach and all-inclusive dining. The new hotel opened in April and is conveniently located to explore many attractions in Antalya, also offering easy reach of the international airport. Slated to open later this month, Wyndham Garden Diyarbakır will boast 182 guest rooms, a terrace with  beautiful views of the city,  a Turkish bath, a fitness centre with a spa and outdoor pool. The hotel will be located within walking distance from the city’s attractions such as the historic city walls and Ulu Mosque, while also providing convenient access to Diyarbakır Airport. Dimitris Manikis, President Europe Middle East, Eurasia and Africa (EMEA), Wyndham Hotels & Resorts EMEA, said: “With the debut of our ninth brand in Turkey, …

Air Arabia Abu Dhabi has announced the introduction of a new service to Trabzon in Turkey with direct flights from Abu Dhabi starting on July 13, 2021. The new service offers greater connectivity and value-for-money options making it easier and more convenient for customers to travel between the two countries. Resting on the bank of the Black sea, Trabzon is a city filled with historical significance. Featuring a unique coastal backdrop, this picturesque city is known for its mystical architecture and bazaars.  The new service represents the 14th route for Air Arabia Abu Dhabi since the launch of the carrier’s service from Abu Dhabi International Airport on July 14, 2020.  Customers can now book their direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Trabzon by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies.  Ensuring the highest standards of safety at every step of the journey by following all health and safety protocols, Air Arabia has also added to the convenience and confidence of passengers by introducing free COVID-19 insurance coverage. The insurance is automatically included as part of the booking and no additional documents are required from passengers.

Turkish Airlines increased the frequency of its Dubai to Turkey route to three daily flights to its Istanbul hub which connects travelers to over 300 destinations worldwide while maintaining the utmost care for a safe and healthy travel experience.  The new flight will start to operate from the 17th of June and is now available for purchase for holiday planners looking to escape the summer heat. It will depart from Dubai daily at 10:20 and arrive in Istanbul at 14:00 with return flights leaving Istanbul at 20:40 and arriving in Dubai the next morning at 2:00. All times are local times of their departure points. Turkish Airlines launched a promotional campaign that will be available until June 18, 2021 to announce the new flights. Tickets for Economy Class are starting at AED 1595 while Business Class tickets are starting from AED 10775 for the campaign period. The tickets purchased during the campaign are valid for the travel period until February 28, 2022. The flight will be operated with wide body aircrafts. The passengers travelling from UAE will not be required to submit a negative PCR test result if they submit a document issued by the relevant country’s official authorities stating that they have been vaccinated at least 14 days before entry to Turkey and /or have contracted the Covid-19 and were cured within the last 6 months. Passengers may visit Turkish Airlines website to have more details. The airline also launched its Newark route, starting its flights on 22nd May 2021. Newark is the 10th USA destination in the extensive network of the flag carrier. Other new destinations launched include Vancouver, Canada and Turkistan, Kazakhstan.  

Inbound medical tourism in Turkey rises, as the nation’s healthcare facilities have treated 264,138 medical tourists in the first six months of 2019, with the year-end projections estimated at one million incoming medical tourists. This forecast will generate upwards of USD 3.5 billion in revenues, surpassing the USD 2.5 billion generated by the end of the previous year, which saw 551,748 tourists travelling into Turkey from over 120 countries to avail healthcare treatments. Salih Ozer, Attaché of Culture and Information, Turkey to the UAE, said, “Tourists come to Turkey for a lot more than its sights; medical tourism into our cities has been climbing steadily over the last decade. We have been investing heavily in the growth of our healthcare sector, and we now offer high-quality treatments at very affordable prices. Medical tourists from our GCC neighbours, in particular, come to Turkey to avail cosmetic treatments. They are drawn in by the opportunity to combine these treatments with Turkish holidays.” The Turkish cities of Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Izmir, Yalova and Adana receive the highest number of medical tourists each year, from GCC nations, including the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, as well as from Germany, Russia. Azerbaijan and Iraq. The top ten clinics for medical tourists listed services under ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynaecology, oncology, cosmetic surgery, orthopaedics and cardiology as the top treatments in 2018.

The Higher Organising Committee of IWAS World Games Sharjah 2019 confirmed that 1,462 participants from 50 countries are set to compete in the world’s largest wheelchair and amputee sports championship in Sharjah from February 10-16. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member Ruler of Sharjah, the IWAS World Games has returned to the emirate for the second time after its successful debut in the city in 2011. The eighth edition of the world championship brings together seven games including archery, athletics, badminton, swimming, shooting, table tennis and wheelchair fencing. New details of the upcoming biennial sports championship were revealed at a press conference held recently at Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa. Global athletes landing in Sharjah over the next few days are set to represent 50 competing nations confirmed by the Higher Organising Committee which include the UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Algeria, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, India, Sweden, Ukraine, Thailand, Turkey, Brazil, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, Kenya, Russia, China, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Italy, South Africa, South Korea, Poland, Pakistan, Norway, Kenya, Latvia, Macau, Azerbaijan, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Germany, Serbia, France, Georgia, the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Greece, Czech Republic, Austria, Belarus and Comoros.

VFS Global has signed a contract with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic for providing visa services in 10 countries worldwide. As per this new contract, VFS Global will now provide visa services for Slovakia in China, India, Kazakhstan, Palestine, Belarus, Russia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Egypt through 38 visa application centres. The rollout of all these new operations is expected to be completed by December 2018. Under the new contract, VFS Global will accept both short and long-term visa applications on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. Chris Dix, Head – Business Development, VFS Global, said, “We are excited about our new partnership with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. The countries where we will be operating are markets where VFS Global has worked for several years and whose travellers are familiar with our services and expertise. We are also pleased to have the opportunity to serve our new clients in new locations, and bring applicants in these locations the same benefits and high-quality service that we have been offering our customers worldwide for the last 17 years.”

Turkish Airlines welcomes a new era of Turkish aviation with the opening of Istanbul Airport. The world’s largest international hub will be home to Turkey’s national flag carrier and establish Istanbul’s place as the centre of the globe for aviation and travel. Upon final completion, the airport will welcome 200 million passengers per year. Coinciding with the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey, the Istanbul New Airport was officially opened by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President, Republic of Turkey. Passengers on the first Turkish Airlines flights to the new airport that was specially operated for the opening ceremony received souvenir tickets. Following the official opening of the New Istanbul Airport on October 29, 2018, Turkish Airlines is operating a limited number of domestic and international routes from the new airport, while all operations and existing flight schedule will run as usual from Istanbul Atatürk Airport. New, additional flights will be operated from Istanbul New Airport to Ankara, Antalya, Izmir, Azerbaijan (Baku) and TRNC (Ercan) until December 30. Pursuant to existing planning, on December 31, all operations will move from Istanbul Atatürk Airport, after which, all flights will operate from Istanbul New Airport. Turkish Airlines will be able to increase its network extension capacity and opportunities for new routes and timings with more slots available, allowing growth for both passenger and cargo transportation. The megaproject will be launched in four phases with the final phase set to be complete in 2028. The complex will boast six runways, four terminals and 233 aircraft parking positions, with the capacity to serve up to 200 million passengers a year with 500+ check in desks and 225,000 employees. Upon completion of the …

Amadeus has expanded its airline business unit capabilities at its Dubai regional hub covering Middle East, Turkey and Africa region. Following the regionalisation of all business units to get closer to their customers, teams in the Dubai regional hub now include those of airlines, travel agencies, airport IT, payments, mobile and legal. Sabine Hansen Peck, SVP, People & Culture, Communication and Brand, Amadeus, opened the new office of the Dubai-based Amadeus Regional Hub. Further, commenting on the occasion, she said, “The Middle East, Turkey and Africa regions are relevant and growing markets for Amadeus. This expansion reflects our commitment to the region.”

The Turkish Cultural and Tourism Office in Dubai recently launched “The Year of Troia (Troy)” campaign at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) as part of the Tourism Plan of Turkey – 2023 to expand tourism traffic into the country with a focus on particular areas, such as the country’s north western region surrounding Canakkale province. “The importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in contributing to Turkey’s growing tourism industry is reflected by the fact that we have over fifty partners from Turkey participating in our pavilion at ATM this year,” said Salih Ozer, Attache of Culture and Information, Turkey to the UAE. In early January, the Turkish government declared 2018 the “Year of Troy” in honour of the 20th anniversary of the ancient city’s recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the historic setting of the Trojan War, described in detail in Homer’s epic poems as “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey.” To mark the occasion, a variety of events are planned throughout the year. The new Troia Museum in western Canakkale Province is expected to draw one million tourists in its inaugural year. The 10,000 square meter museum will showcase archeological findings of the ancient city, including 24 gold pieces known as the treasures of Helen of Troy, which were returned to Turkey from the U.S. after 125 years. Hollywood actors starring in “Troy,” the 2004 blockbuster such as Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eric Bana and Orlando Bloom, have been invited to visit the museum by Turkey’s Tourism and Culture Ministry.