Balloon Exception for Ukrainian Tourists: Following Strong Demand to TÜROB, the Ministry Grants Conditional Permission...

Following strong demand from Ukrainian tourists for balloon tours in Cappadocia to resume, TÜROB contacted the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. As a result of TÜROB's contacts, the Ministry granted conditional permission for Ukrainian tourist groups on 22–25 August. Balloon tours will be permitted on the condition that they comply with health and hygiene rules and with limited participation.

An exception will be made for Ukraine regarding the Cappadocia balloon tours, which had been postponed until October as part of the fight against Covid-19. The Association of Turkish Hoteliers (TÜROB) contacted the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure following strong demand for the resumption of hot air balloon tours from Ukrainian tourists who will visit our country for Ukraine's Independence Day, to be celebrated between 22 and 25 August 2020. As a result of the contacts made by TÜROB, which conveyed the strong demand to the Ministry, the Ministry granted conditional balloon permission to Ukrainian tourist groups, valid only on the dates in question. Balloon tours will be permitted on the condition that they comply with health and hygiene rules and that the number of people is kept limited.

A solution-oriented approach from the Ministry

Providing information on the matter, TÜROB President Müberra Eresin recalled that hot air balloon tours in the Cappadocia region had been postponed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation until 1 October 2020 due to the pandemic. Noting that numerous requests had reached TÜROB from Ukrainian tourism professionals, particularly regarding our Cappadocia and Kayseri regions, Eresin said the following: “Acting on the consistently close interest and support shown to our sector by our Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mr. Adil Karaismailoğlu, we contacted our Minister regarding the matter. We were pleased to learn that, following the instructions given to the competent authorities, the necessary permits had been secured for the resumption of hot air balloon tours, taking the necessary precautions and limited to the period of Ukraine's Independence Day. We extend our gratitude to our Minister, who approached the matter with great sensitivity and provided a swift solution amid the difficult conditions our sector is facing.”

One of our most important tourism markets

Pointing out that, under normal circumstances, Ukraine is one of Türkiye's most important tourism markets with more than 1 million tourists a year, TÜROB President Müberra Eresin said: “As an association, within the scope of our efforts to diversify Turkish tourism and ensure its sustainability, we have organized numerous events such as workshops, fam trips and press tours for the Ukrainian market in order to promote our tourism destinations. As a result of these efforts, together with the observed increase in the market—particularly in cultural and city tourism—we continue to monitor the market in constant contact with our Ukrainian colleagues. Türkiye has become one of the leading tourist destinations for Ukrainians. We expect this demand to continue to grow in the post-pandemic period as well.”