GREAT MISSIONS FALL TO SPONSORS IN PROMOTING BURSA
We realized an interview with Lithuanian honorary Consul Berat Tunakan for Plazette. We talked with Tunakan regarding the relations with Lithuania, tourism potential of Bursa, tourism strikes and travel habits of Tunakan.
Mr. Tunakan, can we learn how long have you been in duty as Honorary Consul of Lithuania? Can you inform our readers regarding the relations between two countries?
- I have been executing this duty for 4 years since 2006. While representing Lithuania in Bursa I believe I represent and promote Bursa in Lithuania.
Lithuania accessed European Union. What is that significance for the relationship between the two countries? What are advantages for businessmen of Bursa?
- Lithuania is a member of European Union. In the next term the European Union Presidency will be transmitted to Lithuania. Lithuania support Turkish membership to European Union in all platforms. We all should benefit from this with whole country. The relations between Turkey and Lithuania are at utmost level. Let me give an example; Lithuania frankly declared its support to Turkey in election where UEFA delegations voted for the venue of 2016 European Football Championship. Businessmen of Bursa might invest in Lithuania. The advantages of investments are as follows:
* The biggest market in the Baltic,
* The geographic center of Europe and closeness to Scandinavia, Germany, Central Europe and Baltic countries,
* Easy entry to Russia, Ukraine and Belarus,
* Hardworking and qualified man power,
* Foreign language skills and cultural tolerance,
* Liberal and integrated to EU market,
* Free zones and industrial parks,
* Low tax ratios,
* Agreement with Turkey on preventing double taxation.
Which products does Turkey export to Lithuania? Which of them are most important?
- The products that Turkey exports to Lithuania are: precious stones and metal products, boiler, machine and apparatus, motor vehicles for land, knitted fabrics, cotton, clothing products and accessories, vegetables and fruits.
- The products that Turkey imports from Lithuania are: iron, steel, organic chemicals, fodder, glues, enzymes, minerals, mineral oils and oils.
You bring Otantik Hotel and Otantik Ship to Bursa. Besides restored the historical café in Haydarpaşa campus of Marmara University and opened to serve as Otantik branch in Istanbul. You have significant enterprises for protecting and stressing the cultural and historical heritage. What things are awaited for people of Bursa especially from now on?
- Except of boutiques and special certificated investments, our works for great scale of tourism investments are continuing. Certainly our main sector is construction. As being Begüm Yapı Ltd. Şti, we do numerous numbers of mass housing. We have enterprises other than tourism and construction sectors.
We can guess that you have a very intensive tempo. Are you travelling between two countries a lot? What kind of visits are you paying in Lithuania?
- We currently have construction and contracting company in Belarus. I visit Belarus often. Minsk is very close to Vilnius. So I visit also Lithuania. We do partnership with Lithuania for construction in Belarus. Apparently, I visit friends working in Lithuanian government.
You have said in one of your interviews that "When Turkey is recalls, first Istanbul and then Antalya comes to minds". What kind of things are you doing to change this image? We know your efforts for promoting of our city. What other duties falls to whom in this regard?
- Those live in Bursa, those who provide income from Bursa resources, those who love Bursa has duties.
Bursa governor Şahbettin Harput is a big chance for Bursa in the tourism and agriculture fields. We all see that his efforts have lots of benefits for Bursa. Bursa Greater Municipality and Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry have a lot contribution to promotion of Bursa.
If you ask whether those works are sufficient, no, they are not. If it was so, the number of tourists coming to Bursa would not be with hundred thousands. The name of Bursa should bring to the fore for the solution by all persons and institutions which have relations abroad. I believe that sponsor is very important in promotion. The league championship of Bursaspor football team had great contribution to the brand value and promotion of Bursa. I have a memory in this subject; during the passport control in Chicago I was so astonished and happy when the police said "Woow, Turkey, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas, Bursaspor, last champion..." after he saw the Turkish passport. I showed Bursa registrations in my passport with an honour.
The basketball team of Çakır Primary School made a camp for 15 days in Lithuania. It created a tremendous impression. Can you inform us in this subject? Are you happy with services that you have received from Plaza Turizm?
- This project was a joint project of Lithuanian Embassy in Ankara, Lithuanian Honorary Consulate in Bursa, Çakır Primary School and Sabonis Basketball Academy. Basketball is a national sport of Lithuania. Lithuanian basketball team is the Champion of Europe and is ranked third in the world. Especially in infrastructure the organization and works are at utmost level. I am a former basketball player and trainer, my son is a student at Çakır Primary School and playing basketball there. A student group of 10 persons born in 1999-2000 with their 2 teachers made a camp for 15 days in cities of Lithuania: Kaunas and Nida with the same age of Lithuanian basketball players. All organisation from the airport in Lithuania was done by Sabonis Basketball Academy. Transfers including both ways from Bursa to Vilnius- the capital of Lithuania- provided by Plaza Tur. I would like to thank to Plaza Tur for realizing the trip without slightest hitch.
Will you please tell us about yourself for our reader to recognize you closer? What do you like to do in your spare time?
- I like sports so much. I am watching basketball matches as much as I find time. I spend time by skiing in winter. I believe that during skiing, brain relaxes by thinking nothing. When I find a spare time definitely I will be together with my children and my wife.
Can you tell us your travel habits? What kind of trips do you like to do?
- My travel habits are related with my job. I have lots of domestic and international trips that are required by job. Unfortunately it is very hard to find time to travel apparently for holiday.
Let's say that you have time for two days holiday. Where would you go and what would you do?
- If I would have time from two days holiday on the condition it is convenient to my wife and children, we would go to a place closed to Bursa that we can be in the middle of nature especially on an island.
We know that you travel with Plaza Turizm. Why do you choose Plaza Turizm?
- We consider Plaza Turizm as a unit of our company which organizes travels for us. Comforts, facilitates, harmony in mutual business principles which comes as a result of working together could be considered as main reasons.
Thank you.
