Zaman, Turkey
June 14 2005

Unchecked Tourist Guides Harm Turkey’s Image
By Isa Sezen, Fatih Yýlmaz
Published: Tuesday 14, 2005
zaman.com

Turkey is heading for a record in number of tourists, while the
tourist guides create a scandalous introduction to Turkey containing
inaccurate information about the country.

Research conducted by Zaman at Topkapi and Dolmabahce palaces indicates
that the stories told about Ottoman sultans suggest that they were
addicted to women. Unofficial tour guides reportedly use the expression
to darken Turkey’s image regarding the issues of Cyprus, Kurdish, and
Armenian. The Antalya Tourist Guide Association President Osman Ozbuldu
says the organization has received complaints that reveal that even
during organized tours, the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk is introduced as the “God of the Turks”. Professor Semavi Eyice
who teaches history to tour guides emphasizes that professional tour
guides are required to have information on general culture and history.

Statistics about the type of penalties that guides are given as the
result of wrongdoing indicate the control mechanisms of the Ministry
of Culture and Tourism are insufficient. Over the past four years,
92 official tour guides have received disciplinary punishment after
they violated their field of authority and used expired tour guide
identification cards. However, attention is being drawn to the fact
that there is no penalty for defaming the national pride. While 1,450
unofficial guides went through the punishment process, experts see
a solution through the wide spread the use of electronic tour guide
systems.

In order to prevent arbitrary information being disseminated about
history, many historic places in Europe and the US are equipped
with sound systems and giant screens. A tour guide with three
years experience at the Topkapi Palace Harem Department suggests,
“This could be solved in two ways: Either appoint a superior to every
single tour guide or disseminate information using sound and visionary
systems under the control of the Ministry.” Turkey was visited by 17
million tourists last year and this year the target is expected to
reach 20 million. The increasing development of the sector reveals
the importance of the tourist guides and their attitude in presenting
the values and accurate facts of the country with respect.

–Boundary_(ID_EjIN5MT7Ho0YBYLBm3WI3g)–