June 3, 2022
By Peter Kenyon
Last year, (click here) most foreign tourists in Turkey came from Russia, Germany and Ukraine. Two of the countries are at war. Visitor numbers are down — meaning tough times ahead for Turkey's tourism industry....
Finland and Sweden as well as the USA and quite possibly the EU should visit President Erdogan to help him understand the importance of Sweden and Finland to NATO. Turkey cannot rely on Russia for tourists anymore. It also cannot have a faux sense of economic stability in relying on Russia. It needs a better economy than it has now.
I am quite sure Ukrainians would love to be on vacation in Turkey rather than facing genocide at the hand of Vladimir Putin. there is too much on the line for Turkey to prevent other European countries from becoming members of NATO. I don't believe any country is secure from Russian wrath. The stronger the alliance the greater the security of the world, quite frankly.
Turkey may be receiving Russia grain stolen from Ukraine and that should be prohibited by NATO. Turkey, itself has issues with Russia as it becomes more unsettled over Syria. Turkey needs a few meetings to help it set goals without causing chaos with international stability.
The Turkish government (click here) is asking that the country be called by its Turkish name, a change which the United Nations has now adopted.
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Going overseas to Turkey now, a country that has long sought to enhance its reputation as an international destination. The latest rebranding move - a new name. The U.N. has agreed to register Turkiye as the country's official name. NPR's Peter Kenyon reports that locals aren't sure what difference it makes.
PETER KENYON, BYLINE: The promotional campaign for the name change has been underway for some time, with videos like this one from Turkish Airlines featuring people saying the new name over and over.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: Hello, Turkiye.
(CHEERING)
KENYON: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government hopes the rebranding will give a boost to the economy as visitors start to return in large numbers after two pandemic-depressed tourist seasons. Some also wish to dissociate the country's name from the bird that traditionally appears on American dining tables at Thanksgiving and from the slang definition of a turkey as something that doesn't work or is foolish. It's not that much of a change for locals. The new name for Turkey is simply the way it's always been spelled and pronounced in Turkish. One observer noted it would be similar to calling Germany Deutschland. Turkish foreign policy analyst Yoruk Isik says this looks to him like a move to distract people from the long list of problems facing the country....
PETER KENYON, BYLINE: The promotional campaign for the name change has been underway for some time, with videos like this one from Turkish Airlines featuring people saying the new name over and over.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: Hello, Turkiye.
(CHEERING)
KENYON: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government hopes the rebranding will give a boost to the economy as visitors start to return in large numbers after two pandemic-depressed tourist seasons. Some also wish to dissociate the country's name from the bird that traditionally appears on American dining tables at Thanksgiving and from the slang definition of a turkey as something that doesn't work or is foolish. It's not that much of a change for locals. The new name for Turkey is simply the way it's always been spelled and pronounced in Turkish. One observer noted it would be similar to calling Germany Deutschland. Turkish foreign policy analyst Yoruk Isik says this looks to him like a move to distract people from the long list of problems facing the country....
