ENVOIREMENT AND FOREST MINISTER, OSMAN PEPE, HAS GOOD NEWS FOR TOURISM INVESTORS

Envoirement and Forest Minister, OSMAN PEPE joined the annual meeting of CASIAD and told that 'Our Government will encourage Tourism Investors for building new hotels particularly around the Historical Gallipoli National Park, Ancient Troia, and Assos. Doing so, several conveniences will be provided particularly in the land allotment.' In the annual meeting,  Mr PEPE was selected as the ministry of the year by the members of CASIAD

GOKCEADA MUNIPLICITY  RESTORATED THE STOLEN INSCRIPTION

The stolen inscription of the historical laundry in the Gokceada Cinarli Street was recently found. In the persian language  "Sahibül hayrat vel hasenat merhum İlhami Ali Ağa'nın kerimesi Hanife Sadbaz" is written on the historical inscription. Recently found inscription  is restorated by the Gokceada Muniplicity and hung its orginal place. The Chief of Gokceada Muniplicity, Halili Rustu AKGUN, told that 'the historical and ancient values of the island are exteremely important and we will do anything to protect them'.  Mr Akgun added that they would always work harder  in order to improve the tourism potential of Gokceada.

MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM HAS STARTED A RESEARCH  ON THE CULTURAL DISHES OF CANAKKALE

The head of Canakkale Culture and Tourism Directorship, Ismail KANSIZ, told that Ministry of Culture and Tourism Research and Education Directorship have started a project regarding the cultural dishes of Canakkale. In the scope of the project the types of several Canakkale's local dishes will be explored and published as a book. Mr KANSIZ added that the first phase of the project was completed between MAY 3, and May 4 2005.

A WIND SURF CENTER WILL BE SETTLED IN GOKCEADA

It is anounced that an attactive windsurf center will be settled in the largest island of Canakkale and Turkey. The Chief of Goceada Muniplicity, Halil Rustu AKGUN, told that a superb windsurf center will be settled at the Kefaloz Beach of Gokceada in the coming year.  Mr AKGUN added that 'Several international windsurfers are coming to Gokceaada for trainning and this should be developed with a superb windsurf center in the island'. It is expected to open regular trainning courses with a capacity of 150 learners in one period. Mr AKGUN claimed that this investment will attract thousands of tourists every year, and told that the cost of this investment would be 2.000.000 EURO.

TROIA IS WAITING ITS MUSEUM

The ancient city Troia, which is one of the most important places to visit in Canakkale is desparetly waiting its museum. Local people of Canakkale ask the urgent help of the authorities for a comprensive museum in the ancient city Troia. It is claimed that 'every year thousands of tourists are coming to the ancient city Troia, however absence of a comprehensive museum  in the famous ancient city cause dissapointments. Unfortunately tourists can not see all the invalubale excavated objects due the absence of a museum in the area.' At the moment the excaveted invalauble objects are exhibited in the archeological museum in the city center of Canakkale. Due to the long distance between the ancient city Troia and Canakkale Archeology Museum (about 35 km), some tourists skip to visit the museum in the city center. As being one of the most important ancient cities of world, Ancient Troia desparetly is waiting its comprehensive museum beside the city. Authorites told that the plan to build a comprehensive musuem in the ancient city was on progress for two years, however no action was taken due to insufficient budget for the project.

Assos Club Albena and Assos Eden Gardens Hotels are nominated as blue flagged beaches of Canakkale for 2005. In the coordination of the International Envoirement Trainning Association, the beaches of  Assos Club Albena and Assos Eden Gardens Hotels are nominated as blue flagged by fulfilling the required criteria.  Hundreds of beaches over 24 countries particaped in the nomination. The owner of Eden Gardens Hotel Dilara SELIMOGLU and the manager of Club Albena told that ' We have already fulfill the requirements two years ago, up to now we have sent samples of the sea every 15 days period. This title ensures the quality of our beaches all over the world. We will work harder to sustain this quality for years.' Apart from these hotels,  174 beaches of Turkey have gained the blue flagged title.

ECO TOURISM IN THE GALLIPOLI  PENINSULA

Authorities launched new projects in order to improve the eco tourism resources in the Gallipoli Peninsula. With regards to new master plan; Eceabat, Kabatepe, Kum Harbour, and authorised village settlements around are proposed as places for accomodation and catering investments. The authorities stress the importance of extending the eco and health tourism resources to the villages around and inside the Historical Gallipoli National Park. It is said that investments in launching pensions in old village houses and exhibition of organic agricultural products will be encouraged. It is also proposed to encourage the restoration of historical buildings and opening local musems exhibiting objects from the Gallipoli Campaign and etnographic values.Alternative Tourism activites are proposed in the master plan of  the historical Gallipoli Peninsula such as eco-tourism, diving activities to sunk battleships in Gallipoli Campaign, Phography, Water Sports, Windsurfing, Trekking, Yatching and so on.

90 YEAR OLD ANZAC MEDAL IS WAITING ITS REAL OWNER

Ahmet USLU, owner of the gallipoli campaign objects gallery in Canakkale, is looking for the real owner of a 90 year old Anzac Medal. Mr USLU told that he had bought an english watch with a gold medal from a farmer, which has a photograph on one side and some women hair on the other side. Mr USLU claimed that this invaluable watch with a gold medal belongs to an Anzac Soldier, who carries his lover's hair and his own phograph. He decribed the medal as follow; 'when you open the medal there is a photograph of an Anzac Soldier on one side and a piece of women hair on the other side. Unfotunately there is no name written on it'. For this reason Mr USLU desparetly searching for the real owner of this invlauble piece and calling the authorities to help him finding the real descendant of this medal. Mr USLU added that he would be glad to give this invaluable piece to whom it belongs to for free. Mr USLU also told that ' There is another English Watch in my gallery which has  the name F.G. Gent name and 11 september 1914 date on it. I will also would like to give this invalueble piece to whom it belongs to'. Mr USLU invites everyone to see his recently opened gallery in order to trace the impressive pieces that comes from Gallipoli Campaign.

TROIA IS ATTRACTING RAPIDLY INCREASING ATTENTION FOR LOCAL TOURISTS  

Ancient City Troia, one of the most important places to visit in Canakkale, is attracting great interest in the recent days. This increasing potential can be considered partly related with the hundereds of school trips coming from all over the Turkey particularly on weekends. However this high interest sometimes cause traffic jam on the entrance of Ancient City Troy with hundereds of busses trying to park around. The authorities claim that the dailly avarage of visit to Ancient City Troia is about 5.000 tourists.

LONG FERRY QUEUE FRUSTRATES THE LOCAL TOURISTS

Hundreds of busses with thousands of people coming from all over the Turkey who wish to visit the Gallipoli Historical National Park cause ferry queue up to 3 Km on saturdays and sundays. Although the ferry do not work on schedule, the intensity of queue do not decrease on the weekends. The narrow roads on the historical peninsula also worsen the situation. The local tourists blame the authorities for the insufficent infrastracture to host thousands of people at a time. On the other hand authorities stress the importantce of extending particularly the school trips to the weekdays in order to decrease the traffic. Authorities claim the hard work on the historical peninsula, and promise to build better transportation conditions.

CANAKKALE IS WAITING ITS SEAPORT FOR CRUISES

Canakkale is desparetly waiting its large seaport to operate for cruises and large ships. Insufficient harbour infrastructure in the city center has again arised the problem of the new seaport completed in Canakkale - Kepez when the Bahama flagged cruise, Astoria, came Canakkale yesterday. 389 German guests of Astoria was carried by boats to the harbour. Then the group was transported to the ancient city Troy. This transportataion problem is thought to be solved when the new several million dolar valued large Kepez Seaport start to operate.

ECO TOURISM IN THE MOUNT IDA DISTRICT

With its extensive and distinctive flora, Eco Tourism is continuously progressing  in the  Mount IDA district of Canakkale particularly in the Kucukuyu region. The head of  Kucukkuyu Municipality, Yusuf Aksoy, claims that the region is attracting increasing attention with the recent promotions in the national and international press. Kucukkuyu region offers wide array of alternatives for the tourists with its crystal clear sea, springs, mountains, ancient places, health centers, and mounteneering activities. The head of  Kucukkuyu Municipality, Yusuf Aksoy, adds that jeep safari and trekking activities orginised by several travel agencies welcomes thousands of tourists particularly from Belgium and Germany. He claims that the interest to the region will increase rapidly in the coming years.

TURK-ANZAC WINE IS COMING SOON

Canakkale Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Australia Vigneron Company has signed a contract in order to produce a new wine called 'Pax Mey' with the blend of Turkish, Australian and New Zealand wines. The chief of agriculture comission of Canakkale Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Huseyin YALMAN, told that in order to improve the relations between Turkey, Australia and New Zealand, they have signed a contract with the Australian Vigeron Company as being 24.69% shareholder.After this partnership,in 2004 Vigeron has imported 23 thousand liter wine to Australia. Mr. YALMAN added that this new brand wine will be on the market in the coming months.