Cruise tourism will bring a value-added transformation to the economy

In recent years, Turkey has gained significant momentum in cruise tourism, and the technical development of cruise ports is attracting global attention. Turkey’s rise in cruise tourism, combined with its spectacular natural beauty and rich historical heritage, is establishing it as an important tourist destination.

Highlighting the importance of Maritime and Cabotage Day, celebrated as a national holiday on July 1st, Çavuşoğlu emphasizes that Turkey has become an attractive destination for cruise companies and passengers. Çavuşoğlu states, ‘Improvements in port infrastructure and investments in tourist sites are enhancing Turkey’s competitive edge in the international cruise market, further strengthening its potential in the tourism sector.’

‘National Maritime Day is Cabotage’

Emrah Yılmaz Çavuşoğlu, founder and chairman of Camelot Maritime, the first company in Turkey to operate a foreign-owned cruise ship, made significant remarks before Cabotage Day. Çavuşoğlu emphasizes the critical importance of modernizing Turkey’s port infrastructure and strategic investments in tourist sites for cruise tourism, stating, ‘Our country has become a region attracting the attention of cruise companies and passengers. These developments are significantly contributing to economic growth and increasing employment opportunities.’ Çavuşoğlu also highlighted the significance of July 1st Cabotage Day to Turkey’s maritime tradition and the future of cruise tourism:

‘Cabotage Day is a highly important and national holiday for our country. For us mariners, the meaning of cabotage is very special. This holiday reminds us of the importance of our maritime sector and underscores the need to take strategic steps to enhance our potential. I celebrate Cabotage Day with my heartfelt wishes, for the benefit of both our country and our sector.’

‘We Will Stand Out with Cruise Tourism’

Improvements in port infrastructure and investments in tourist destinations are boosting our country’s competitiveness in the cruise market while also contributing to sustainable tourism development. Çavuşoğlu, noting that the passenger count, which was 1.5 million in 2023, is expected to reach 2 million in 2024, said, ‘So far, the number of cruise reservations at Turkish ports has exceeded 1,400. This number was around 1,200 in 2023. In the coming months, the number of reservations is expected to reach 1,600. Ships with a capacity of 1,000 to 5,500 passengers are docking at Turkish ports. We expect the passenger count of 1.5 million in 2023 to reach 2 million in 2024.’

‘We Must Solve the Visa Issue for Seafarers to Avoid Falling Behind in the Race’

On these days when we celebrate Cabotage Day, Gürbüz Can, General Manager of Camelot Maritime, emphasized that we must not forget our seafarers:

‘With the introduction of new and large cruise ships after the pandemic, 1.5 million seafarers are expected to be employed at sea by 2025. Especially, the growing cruise and mega yacht sectors hold great potential for Turkish tourism workers. However, we still haven’t solved the international travel issues of our professional mariners. Visa problems for our seafarers are causing us to receive a smaller share of the growing employment pie. Until this issue is resolved, Turkish maritime will lag behind. In line with the importance of Cabotage Day, it is imperative that we find solutions to the problems faced by our mariners.’