Ports need overhaul to ‘boost cruise tourism’

ISTANBUL - Radikal

Turkey’s ports are not designed for cruise ships despite the country has a great potential for cruise tourism, according to a sector professional. DHA photo

Turkey possesses a great potential for cruise tourism thanks to its regional advantages but its ports are failing to accommodate a rising number of ships because they were not designed for cruise ships, a sector player has said.

“Ships have begun to come [to Turkey], but the ports are insufficient as they weren’t built considering cruise tourism,” MSC Cruises Turkey General Manager Necla Tuncel told Anatolia news agency.

Vessels using Greek and Croatian ports might stop by Turkey as well, she said, “but in order to be able to take a share from this tourism, the ports need an urgent overhaul.”

Last year, over 2 million tourists came to 22 Turkish ports carried by 1,517 ships, according to figures provided by Tuncel.

The rehabilitation is not necessary for only Istanbul ports, which are the most popular ones, as İzmir, Marmaris and Kuşadası’s ports should also be overhauled, she said.