Air cruises at bus prices may change travel styles in Turkey

Mauiva, a U.S.-based flight service company, is offering an “air cruise” program for travelers with a claim to “change the way people travel.”

The all-inclusive programs cover cruises across either the east or west coast of the country on a private plane for 30 in a bid to avoid big-time loses at large airports.

Attendees experience a luxurious trip for unbeatable prices, said Eti Sternberg, managing director for Israel and Turkey at Tourico Holidays, Mauiva’s strategic partner in marketing the air cruise globally.

The six-night west coast tour costs $1,700, which is $200 more than the one day shorter east coast tour. “In each tour, travelers have the chance to see nearly 20 attractions,” Sternberg told the Hürriyet Daily News during a recent interview in Istanbul. “These guided tours are by private airplanes through private airports at bus prices.”

The main idea behind this business plan is time-saving, as travelers can easily access and depart from private airports compared to international ones. “The visitor’s luggage is moved to their hotels while they visit an attraction,” Sternberg said.

Accommodations are at four-star hotels and shuttle busses wait for travelers at every airport.

The tour price also includes visits to all attractions and two meals.

Touirco is a subsidiary of Travel Holdings, the global travel distribution company. Their business strategy basically depends on advance payment to hotels, museums, transporters and tourism facilities.

“The company pays about $200 million every year to nearly 23,000 hotels across the world. It is a global wholesale travel provider with over 150 international distribution websites,” Sternberg said.

The Florida-Mexico-Jamaica air cruise will start in winter while the Europe tour is scheduled for summer 2012.

Responding to a question about why the company has a joint Turkey-Israel desk, Sternberg said, “Turkish and Israeli people have many similarities.”

Goldenbay Tours, the leading tour operator in Turkey for outgoing group business to the U.S., partners with Tourico in marketing the cruises in Turkey. “We will mark an era in travel to the U.S.,” said Cem Şahin, managing director of the Turkish party. “Soon trips to the U.S. will cost as much as a trip to Europe,” Şahin told the Daily News in a recent interview. “This is a new product for us and it is precious.”


/Hurriyet Daily News/