Antalya Airport gets best investment award

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Antalya Airport is the most succesful tourism investment in Turkey, a survey says. DHA photo

The ICF Airports Antalya Airport has been chosen as “Turkey’s Most Successful Tourism Investment,” according to a survey sponsored by the Tourism Investors’ Association (TYD), Eurbank Tekfen and economy magazines Capital and Ekonomist.

“We started [investments] in 2012. Renewal and expansion work at the second international terminal was completed in March. We have raised the comfort level of passengers substantially and increased the total annual passenger capacity to 47 million,” said Salih Çeçen, an IC Holding board member, as he received the award.

Antalya Airport was recognized as the “Best Airport in Europe” by the Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe) in the 10-25 million passenger category in 2011.

The survey also identified successful tourism investments in 10 different categories. The national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, won the award in the airlines category.

“Very large investments have been made in Turkey in the last five years. Those giant investments have produced facilities that will make significant contributions to the economy of the country,” said Rauf Ateş, the editor-in-chief of weekly Ekonomist.

Doyens who contributed to the development of the Turkish tourism industry were also honored. Aydın Doğan, the honorary president of Doğan Holding, gave the Honor Award to Semahat Arsel. k HDN
Turkish Travel Agencies Union (TÜRSAB) President Başaran Ulusoy was honored with the Contribution to Tourism Special Award.