Continuing its search for new markets in order for Bursa to get a larger share from tourism, the Metropolitan Municipality hosted 23 tour operators from 38 countries in Bursa and offered the opportunity to meet one-on-one with tourism organizations, hoteliers and tourism agencies.
Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, which continues its efforts to ensure that Bursa can get the share it deserves from tourism and to increase its recognition in every region of the world, especially in Europe, continues its promotional campaign without slowing down. 23 tour operators from 38 countries were hosted in Bursa with the contributions of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Bursa Culture Tourism and Promotion Union, TÜRSAB Southern Marmara Regional Representation Board, Southern Marmara Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (GÜMTOB).
Speaking before the B2B one-to-one meeting program at the Atatürk Congress Cultural Center Hüdavendigar Hall, Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Ahmet Bayhan said that they were very happy to host tourism representatives from many different countries in Bursa. Ahmet Bayhan stated that the Metropolitan Municipality and the Bursa Culture Tourism Promotion Union continue to work intensively to strengthen the city's tourism in existing markets and promote it in new markets, and that they hosted 23 tourism operators from 38 countries in Bursa for 3 days. Stating that they act together with sector representatives that import and export services to increase awareness in tourism, Bayhan said, “We have participated in more than 3 fairs in 23 countries in the last 55 years. We held bilateral meetings in 17 countries. We organized fam trips by hosting hundreds of tourism professionals from 2 different countries in Bursa. We organize these activities together with sector representative non-governmental organizations such as Türsab, Gümtob and Busad. We aimed to increase participation, interaction and benefit to the marginal level. Bursa is the inheritor of a rich culture. We work and produce together with sector representatives in every field, from gastronomy to winter tourism, from nature tourism to health tourism, from faith tourism to sports tourism. From our location, we can reach sea tourism in 40 minutes, and if we go in a different direction for 30 minutes, we can reach mountain tourism. These two concepts meet side by side and support each other in this city. Bursa is a city of abundance with its 30 km of sea, 115 km of lake coastline, waterfalls, canyons and thermal waters. With this program, we wanted to make our guests experience a little bit of Bursa. With this program, we brought together our guest tour operators with our tourism professionals from Bursa. "I hope the bilateral talks will be fruitful and profitable for all parties," he said.
Ahmet Bayhan also mentioned the job-guaranteed front office personnel, service personnel and housekeeping personnel courses in cooperation with the Metropolitan Municipality, GÜMTOB, BUSMEK and BIKO, and emphasized the importance of this cooperation in order to employ qualified personnel for the sector. Explaining that they are planning a training study in this direction with Türsab, Bayhan said that they are ready to cooperate with all sectors.
Chinese tour operator Lu Ye said that he came to Bursa for the first time and encountered a very beautiful city. Stating that he was impressed by the friendliness of the people, Lu Ye stated that he would recommend all tourists coming to Turkey to come to Bursa. Explaining that the meeting was useful and productive, Lu Ye said that Bursa has an advantage as accommodation prices are more affordable than Istanbul and Cappadocia and its thermal waters are of high quality.
South African tour operator Ayodele Oluwole Oyeneyin said that Bursa is a very beautiful and impressive city. Stating that being close to Istanbul is a great advantage and that it is a city that people remember, Oyeneyin said that the meeting was very useful and that one-to-one communication is now very important in tourism.
Spanish tour operator Maria Luisa Colen stated that she was surprised by the riches she encountered and the opportunities it offered after visiting Bursa. Explaining that there are opportunities to do tourism in Bursa, Colen said that he would definitely recommend Bursa, along with Istanbul, to those who prefer Turkey.
The program continued with B2B meetings between tourism organizations, hoteliers and tourism agencies from Bursa and foreign tour operators.