Antalya Muratpaşa Mayor Ümit Uysal said that Antalya city tours, with their gastronomy and historical and natural beauties dating back to the ancient stone age, will take their place in the world market under the ‘municipality guarantee’.

Mayor Uysal met with the owners and managers of nearly 20 travel agencies at the municipality’s Prof. Dr. Erdal İnönü City Park. The meeting was also attended by Rıza Perçin, Mediterranean Region President of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB).

Starting his speech by saying, “Today is a historic day for Antalya city tourism,” Mayor Uysal said, “We are all saying let’s start Antalya city tours and offer them for sale in the world. I am sure there are many people who would like to take a 1-hour walk on the cliffs. I believe there are many people who would like to take a 1-hour guided tour in Kaleiçi.”

Stating that the Antalya city tour is a content that will take tourism beyond being just a commercial activity, Mayor Uysal said, “It will provide social interaction. It will provide high trade. It will provide high geographical promotion.” Expressing that Antalya has a very important place in the world tourism market with mass tourism, Mayor Uysal underlined that the city tour is an area that is next to mass tourism but has very diverse and high returns.

Mayor Uysal said that the work they started 10 years ago in Kaleiçi, the historical city center of Antalya, could be evaluated as an application of this in a certain area. Uysal noted that they first solved the license problem of the businesses in Kaleiçi, then organized the street usage and introduced the living ancient city to the world as a destination with the Kaleiçi Old Town Festival. Mayor Uysal also emphasized that today, Kaleiçi continues to be a tourist destination for 12 months.

Mayor Uysal said that the Antalya city tour, which will now take its place in the world market, will be guaranteed by the Muratpaşa Municipality. President Uysal, who stated that the tour will be a weekly package, said that the package will meet the market through agencies. TÜRSAB Mediterranean Region President Rıza Perçin said that they would be happy to be a part of such a study as agencies. At the end of the meeting, a working team was established to create tour programs.