At the “12th Quality Prize-giving Ceremony for Tourism”, Skalite 2009, which took place at Çırağan Palace Kempinski on 7 December 2009, Istanbul Ataturk Airport was granted the “Airport Award” in the Tourism and Transportation Prizes group. Managing Director of TAV Istanbul, Kemal Ünlü, received the prize on behalf of TAV. Minister of Tourism and Culture, Ertuğrul Günay, who received the “2009 Skalite Special Award” at the ceremony, indicated that much devoted effort has made Turkey a very important country in the world regarding tourism. 26 MILLION TOURISTS VISITED Günay said “In spite of all the faced in 2009, among the top 10 countries of tourism in the world, only Turkey managed to end the year with a gain. We should make quality our priority as we move forward into the future.” Günay, remarking that last year’s target of 25 million tourists was surpassed despite the economic downturn, indicated that correspondingly, an increase in income per visitor above the world average is another goal they are striving toward.

INTEREST IN SKALITE VOTING INCREASED
Kemal Özyiğit, President of the Skal Istanbul Club, explained that the prizes known in the sector as the “Tourism Oscars” have been determined by transparent internet voting in two stages. He declared that the interest in Skalite voting increased this year and readers of “This Morning in Tourism” cast 65,770 votes. The 2009 Skalite Special Prize was granted to Mr. Günay, Minister of Tourism and Culture, and the other prizes were presented by Skal Board Members.