Cruise and Ferry Review - Summer/Spring 2020

2 5 2 MEDITERRANEAN: V IEWPOINT A Turkish resurgence Cultural initiatives and a new terminal equipped with modern technology will make Istanbul a new cruise hub in the Mediterranean F ollowing its recent plans to bring tourism into the heart of Istanbul, Galataport is preparing for a busy year ahead. The ‘destination within a destination’ aims to become a cultural hub for locals and visitors alike by creating commercial opportunities for nearly 250 retail and food and beverage businesses, both local and international and a global hotel brand. The area will also be home to some of Turkey’s leading cultural attractions, such as Istanbul Modern Museum and Istanbul Painting & Sculpture Museum of the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Located between these, Istanbul’s first museum square will also feature an annual calendar of cultural activities. Many ports around the world are invested in improving the tourism experience, but what differentiates Galataport is our new terminal. It’s the world’s first underground cruise terminal, which spans 29,000 square metres and is accessed via a unique hatch system. When there is no ship in the port, the hatch will remain closed so that the area above ground can be used by the public. The terminal will enable Galataport to open up the unique Karaköy coastline for the first time in 200 years. The port’s modern technology doesn’t stop there. We have developed a software solution called Berthlog with Dogus Technology that will record cruise line bookings to ensure we use the dock space in the most effective way. We are also in the process of creating a new lifestyle app with Dogus that will provide tourist information, visit planning, navigation and transportation features to help visitors make the most of their experience. The first ship will arrive at the new Galataport Istanbul on 5 April and the retail areas will open soon after, so we are anticipating that the port of Istanbul will return to its leading position in the Mediterranean basin by 2020. We already have 61 calls reserved for 2020, which will bring around 75,000 passengers to the city, and a further 180 calls for 2021, bringing 350,000 passengers. Among these calls, we will welcome back cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Costa and Windstar Cruises. CFR Figen Ayan is the vice president of cruise operations at Galataport Istanbul Figen Ayan: Galataport Istanbul When there are no ships at the port, the barrier will lower to open the area for public use