“Muğla Promotion Days” was organized between the dates of 12 – 15 October, 2008, in the city of Odessa in Ukraine by the Muğla Odessa Company, with the collaboration of the Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bodrum Chamber of Commerce and Marmaris Chamber of Commerce. After the conclusion of the fair, Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Akif Arıcan stated that the fair has achieved its purpose, and said, “With its population over one million, Odessa, which is one of Ukraine”s important commercial cities and a port close to Turkey, has significant potential for Turkish businesspeople. Odessa is an important stop in the connection of Turkey with Ukraine, Turkey”s second biggest trade partner in the Union of Independent Countries. Odessa is a region which needs to import all goods other than iron and steel, chemical fertilizers, grains and some agricultural products. There is a 48 million dollar investment potential in the area from 250,000 homes under construction, and the 2012 Europe Championships to be held there. The container terminal at the port of Odessa is built on 125,000 square meters of land. It also has 2904 meters of railroads. Cargoes are sent by land, rail, sea and river transport to the recipients. Approximately 20% of the city”s population have high level incomes. The fair, held with the purpose of developing the commercial and economic collaboration between Muğla and Odessa, and evaluating the reciprocal investment environment has reached its purpose. “Muğla Promotion Days in the Ukraine” has had the characteristics of both a fair and an introductory activity. While participation in the fair was not as high as expected, participating firms, displaying their wares on an area of approximately 1000 m2, have observed a significant potential in Odessa, which is the most important port city of the Ukraine, in the tourism sector, fresh fruit and vegetables, and the marble industry. The negotiations of the participants in the fields of fresh fruit and vegetables, and in marble increased hopes that some important agreements would be signed. On the third day of the “Muğla Promotion Days”, a meeting was organized to achieve collaboration between travel agencies active in the city of Odessa in Ukraine and hoteliers from our region who participated in the fair. During this meeting, the travel agencies in Odessa received extensive information from the hoteliers of our region, and exchanged views about the promotion of the tourism potential of the region. It has been determined that the reason our region is not getting very many tourists from Ukraine is that there are no direct flights from Ukraine to our region, unlike Antalya. Travel agencies, pointing out that the Ukrainian tourist recently tends to prefer boutique hotels, drew attention to the fact that the Muğla region is lucky in this respect. They have also emphasized that the reason Ukrainian tourists go to Antalya is because they don””t know about Muğla, that touristic travel from the Ukraine to Muğla is only 2%, that the Muğla region is an important touristic region, and in order to increase travel to Muğla, an effective advertising campaign aimed at both the travel agencies and the public is needed. On the property industry, which is one of the biggest business areas of our region, a meeting was held with the real estate agents in Odessa, and it has been said that if Ukrainians get to know the area, there will be considerable business in that field as well. The Muğla Promotion Days in Ukraine, where important steps were taken to develop the bridge of friendship and trade, have been evaluated as an encouraging step both by Ukrainian authorities and by participating firms. It has been observed that if the sustainability of the activities to be started within the framework of this step can be achieved, tangible results can be reached.
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