19th annual EMITT – East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition – in Turkey impressed by beauty of Seychelles
The 19th edition of the East Mediterranean International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (EMITT), considered to be the world’s 5th biggest tourism fair with a 65,000 sqm space, took place in Istanbul from January 22-25, 2015. Around 4,500 professionals from the tourism sector, including companies and development agencies from both Turkey and other countries, participated in order to promote different destinations.
The fair received operators, travel agencies, hotels, airlines, cruise operators, national tourist boards, transportation services, medical tourism providers, and other tourism institutes from Turkey and also from neighbor countries, such as Lebanon, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria. The fair recorded 30,000 visitors over the 4 days.
Seychelles participated with a 20 sqm stand looking very elegant with a large picture of Anse Source D’Argent La Digue and one depicting a sea turtle coming up a beach to lay eggs with the brand colors and logo. The Seychelles’ flag welcomed the visitors among all the other countries’ flags at the entrance of the fair, and the stand was very well-positioned right at the entrance of the hall dedicated to the tourism boards. Seychelles was represented by the Tourism Board’s Regional Manager for Italy, Monette Rose, and Marketing Executive, Yasmine Pocetti. Many travel agencies and tour operators showed that they were very interested in starting to sell the destination and inquired about the incoming agencies in Seychelles to take contact and start new business opportunities.
The exhibition provided key insights into the fast-moving tourism industry, offering a platform to network and acquire further knowledge and contacts.
The outgoing travel market in Turkey has a great potential as a growing economy: Turkish people are fascinated by the sea-sun holidays, and Turkey stands on a tourism intersection – the country lies both in the Balkans and in Caucasia, and it is bordered by the Black Sea as well as the Mediterranean.
Some important meetings were held at the stand such as Constance Hotels representatives for Turkey, tour operators, and many journalists and TV crews to reinforce the promotion of the country through familiarization trips, joint campaigns, and media advertising. Seychelles also had the pleasure to welcome on the stand famous Turkish TV star Mrs. Özlem Tunca, presenter of a well-known travel program on Channel 7, Dünyayı Geziyorum.
The fair was also open to the public during the weekend, and Seychelles had a great opportunity to showcase its cultural, geographical, and natural attractions to a growing market that proved to be very interested on the destination.
Seychelles also had the honor to win for the second time in a row the prize “Friendship of EMITT 2015,” a prize for the friendliest stand during the fair.
