TURA TURİZM

The cruise industry finds itself in an extraordinary period of growth not simply in terms of the number of new ships being launched but because their size allowing designers to combine new technology with imagination and creativity to wow passengers with great new amenities and attractions on board. In line with these trends cruise operators are focusing on classic marketing tools to fill their ships. While all modern cruise ships offer excellent services onboard and are trying to widen the scope of their facilities, the cruise product is of course more than the onboard experience. The focus now has switched to the shore side experience as the destinations that make up today’s itineraries are an important ingredient in the cruise package, especially in Europe. This brings its own set of challenges because there is no doubt that existing destinations need to be improved and new ones need to be discovered and developed. But a destination's attractiveness can be enhanced at existing sites with a creative, well managed approach to delivering high quality shore excursions. Appealing shore excursions at attractive destinations contribute to the consumer's choice of a cruise as well as providing a considerable amount of onboard revenue for the cruise operator. The delivery of those excursions is not simply a question of laying on coaches and guides. Just as the onboard product is evolving at an extraordinary pace so is the delivery of the shore excursion experience. In the Turkish cities of Kusadasi, Istanbul and Izmir the principles that guide Tura Turizm in the delivery of high quality shore excursions may look obscure and hard to implement, yet they are not so complicated and often obvious. Hospitality: Guests step ashore onto a special VIP red carpet to the sounds of an authentic Janissary Ottoman Band. A hospitality desk provides information and maps to those who have not booked an excursion. Creativity: At Ephesus, for example, guests are treated to an interactive show consisting of 50 professional performers enacting scenes of Ephesus during the Roman period. Each guest is provided with an authentic replica of an entrance tablet, used as tickets in that period, and they can be worn as pandantif. Innovation: A coach has been converted into a sanitary unit – a mobile WC, suitable for handicapped guests, which is very much appreciated by all guests. This service has been introduced as the sanitary facilities tend to be inadequate at venues. Technology: The latest generation of head sets has been introduced for guided tours. These work within a range of 150 meters enabling guests to listen to the guide while they are enjoying the venue at their own pace. This device also avoids delays in rounding up guests, especially on congested days. Security: As a continuity of ISPS, our guests are provided with a private security services. SSS (Shorex Security Standards) is a discreet security service operated by a professional company, who are deployed during our excursion programs at all the sites visited. Health and Safety: At all venues, shopping areas and parking lots an ambulance is available in case of an unexpected emergency to provide first aid on spot. Environmental awareness: The Company believes strongly in the environment. As a consequence only recycled materials are used and recycled bins are placed at all venues. In the Ephesus Mountains and in vicinity of Virgin Mary trees are planted for each guest and they are presented with a plantation certificate. Diversification: Each year the company increases the number of shore excursion offerings by adding new venues and offer individual activities for small groups of repeaters. Quality: A core value for the company which affects all parts of the tour including coaches, guides, restaurants and meeting points. Personal touch: Guest satisfaction is another core value. This means using a professional team, fluent in foreign languages, who speaks to guests throughout the tour to establish whether the experience is meeting expectations. This enables the team to be proactive in dealing with any concerns. Even when very large numbers are on tour the objective is to make contact with every guest. Guests are also offered bottles of cold water, refreshing towels, evil eye beads - a typical Turkish souvenir, flowers to ladies or a glass of complimentary cold wine after a long tour. Standardization: All 28 people in our Shore excursions team wear orange and khaki uniforms so that they can be easily spotted everywhere, and guides are trained off season. The Company operates a department named the “Call Center” which is a unique concept that monitors the duration spent at each venue, on all the tours operated, to ensure that it is on schedule. Service flexibility: Standardization does not equate to inflexibility. The company is flexible enough to answer the particular needs of different nationalities when they occur. Time management: The Company provides each tour guide with a schedule detailing the exact length of time their group should spend at each venue with a brief regarding the requirements of the tour which is controlled by the “Call Center”. Timings for each guide are scheduled to avoid congestion at the venues. Thanks to these principles and the experience and professionalism of the personnel at Tura Turizm - accumulated over 43 years in the business - guest satisfaction ratings reached 99% in 2006 based on the analysis of the 50,000 questionnaires returned to the company by guests. In today's cruise sector, attention to detail is a prerequisite of a company delivering quality shore excursions. Only in this way will guests return to their ships having experienced a memorable time ashore. But Tura Turizm does not rest on its laurels as it tries to come up with new ideas and innovations to implement each year.