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Post by artisans on Mar 6, 2009 12:34:22 GMT 2
It is generally acknowledged that the cost of tourism businesses in Turkey are significantly lower than in the Mediterranean countries of the euro area. The problem is that those cost benefits all serve to enhance the profits of package tour operators - the very ones that are hiking up Mediterranean holiday prices to unacceptable levels. If an operator saves 20 euros per holiday by sending someone to Turkey and then persuades 100,000 people to go there, that's an extra 2 million euros for doing nothing. They would say that is good business, but they are achieving it by denying customers their desinations of choice.
... and when Turkey joins the EU, where will they send us then - Iraq?
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minime
Roda Probationer
Posts: 29
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Post by minime on Mar 17, 2009 9:20:46 GMT 2
Don't be surprised. Big business is not bothered what the consumer actually wants. The only people the tour operators are concerned about is themselves and their share holders.
You "Joe Public" are only there to fund their greed.
Look at the current economic problems and the banks. Again let's rip off the poor public who work their socks off to save a few quid.
Look at the history of tourism. The tour company builds up an area then when the locals want a bigger cut of the profits for all the work they have done the tour company dumps them and moves on somewhere else and so it continues.
So it's Iraq next year then is it. Remember to pack a flac jacket with the sun cream. Oh yes and ladies you will need to cover all of your body so no sunbathing.
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Post by artisans on Mar 17, 2009 10:00:59 GMT 2
Somehow, minime, we - the tourists, need to make a stand. A good deal has to be a good deal for everybody. The tour operators need to understand that we won't be bullied into supporting resorts from which they make bigger profits. They are plundering some of the most beautiful places in the world and then leaving them to rot in the sun.
Don't forget the mosquito story and consider, when you spend £500 on a holiday, those are 500 x £1 votes - you can just as easily place your votes elsewhere. The tour operators try to negate this opportunity by loading prices on such places and lowering those where they want you to go. In fact, travellers to Greece are probably subsidising long-haul flights.
The other problem, of course, is them telling us that half-empty resorts are full. I have written about this to ABTA, who quote a two day response, but nothing yet.
Maybe this is the year to make them take notice of us.
Steve
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Post by davelinda on Mar 17, 2009 18:12:38 GMT 2
Steve,Good luck with your response,but I wouldn't hold your breath for a positive one.
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Post by Ian on Mar 17, 2009 20:35:30 GMT 2
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Post by artisans on Mar 18, 2009 9:59:15 GMT 2
Thanks for posting the FCO link, Ian. I have looked at their site from time to time, but I've never looked at the page on Turkey. It makes interesting reading and raises a question or two - not least of which is 'why are European tour operators so keen to send us there?'
Steve
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Post by Ian on Mar 18, 2009 19:26:38 GMT 2
I could not agree more. Next time your on the site take a look at another popular destination that they promote Egypt.
It does make you wonder why are they promoting these places.They must know what is going on. I think that they should be made to tell people what the risks are and point them to this web site. I wonder if you could take legal action against them if something did happen ?
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Post by davelinda on Mar 18, 2009 20:17:56 GMT 2
Ian,I doubt it would go far if you did try to take legal action,you know what gov departments are like.
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minime
Roda Probationer
Posts: 29
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Post by minime on Mar 19, 2009 9:16:43 GMT 2
If you did take legal action they would deny everything...as usual. The FCO in London still think the world is pink and we have an empire. The locals fighting is just a little local disagreement and nothing to worry about...pass the G & t.
I always think Carry on Up The Kyber is typical of the FCO.
And remember with all the laws about not being discrimatory they probably can't print the truth in case they get sued.
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Post by artisans on Mar 26, 2009 10:04:01 GMT 2
ABTA have finally acknowledged one of my two letters concerning the 'unavailability' of half-full accommodation. I realised that I went to school with the chairman of the 'Code of Conduct' committee so I wrote a second email to him. For some reason, they have assumed that I am complaining about TUI, even though they were not personally mentioned, and ABTA have written to them for an explanation. This is surprising as Tim Williamson from TUI UK is actually a board member of ABTA - surely he could have been consulted? We now have to wait a little longer for the excuse.
Steve
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minime
Roda Probationer
Posts: 29
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Post by minime on Mar 27, 2009 10:03:43 GMT 2
The chairman is probably on holiday!!! and anyway it takes time to think of an excuse. Which will probably be along the lines of it is nothing to do with us it is down to the local travel agent.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2009 13:03:35 GMT 2
It becomes so annoying that Tour Operators and Travel Agents can change things around willy nilly. Think back to First Choice in Corfu in Acharavi, etc. The controversies that were caused up there over the AI hotel, and holidays. Then they virtually and competely move out, and went off to Eastern Europe. I can remember having many a verbal argument with them, sometimes to the point of being given warnings, or the story being cut short because certain admin on forums got concerned.
How can companies contemplate such places as Turkey when we have the troubles that arise there, there continual links with anti facist groups. Most recently we have had the problems of Golden Tours or a similar name where all the accommodation was filthy, and then yesterday it was the story of 40 Sunsail reps being arrested and deported.
We have holidayed twice in Turkey. One visit was OK, with a few problems. The other was when my partner was attacked in front of me, by this I mean she was groaped, and molested before being thrown to the ground. Knives were involved. The next day we were on a flight home. We will never go there again.
The idea of these places such as Turkey, Egypt etc is only for the Tour operators to make more money. They offer fantastic prices, such as 70p a day in Turkey, everyone jumps for them, but does not know of the real implications. My advise is this, when booking any holiday, but in particular one such as mentioned, is to asked for the Gazzetter, the Travel Agents bible. Once you could not see this, but now they cannot refuse. In here you will find out about your accommodation, the resort, and the politics and recent history of the place, or reference to the Foreign Office.
What can we do, not a lot really, other than not take these holidays. Boycott all of them, and stick to what we are use to. Any way the Euro if treated as such is fine, price differences are not too bad, it is only the lack of the GBP exchange rate. Stick to what you know, and go to those places.
Chris
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Post by artisans on Mar 27, 2009 18:28:40 GMT 2
You are probably right, minime, but part of the Code of Conduct for ABTA members is to do the best they can for their customers. The problem is that if we make too much fuss, what is to stop them teaching us a lesson by withdrawing from Roda completely?
Steve
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Post by artisans on Mar 27, 2009 18:46:09 GMT 2
I still believe that a holiday in Roda will cost less than its equivalent in Turkey - if there is such a thing. If every cent is accounted for from booking through to returning home - it is cheaper in Corfu even at the current exchange rate.
I went to Turkey once and I was told then that the authorities lock up all of the vagrants and itinerants when the tourist season starts and they stay locked up until October when they are thrown back on to the streets. I've no way of knowing if this still happens but it wasn't all that long ago.
The problem is that the US wants Turkey in the EU because of airbases and oil and they put a lot of pressure on the UK to plead their case. The Greek government were furious last week when Obama declared his intention to visit Turkey and not Greece.
Steve
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Post by artisans on Mar 27, 2009 19:05:12 GMT 2
Don't hold your breath for an answer from my contact at ABTA - he resigned after 'losing the confidence of his fellow directors' following the collapse of a company called 'Unpackaged Holidays.' Back to square one!
Steve
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