By Agnes Mucuha
Turkish Airlines Kenya office led by its country manager Mr. Oguzcan, collaborated with the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) to host a familiarization trip to Turkey for travel agents last week beginning Monday April 24 to April 28, 2023. The trip exposed us to Turkish Airlines products and services, and it all began at the Turkish Visa Center located at the Two Rivers Mall, Southern Wing, Ground floor in Nairobi. The visa application process was seamless, and the documentation required was standard. Within ten days, our single tourist visas were issued, and we received an sms notification for visa collection.
Departure, NBO
Upon checking in, our group was hosted at the Turkish Airlines lounge located at the JKIA – Unit 1C. The lounge provided comfort and refreshments for us, and the highly reliable Wi-Fi connectivity combined with the warm hospitality from the concierge team made this a good experience.
Turkish Airlines operates either the Boeing 737 or the Airbus A330 on the Nairobi route. On this day, we boarded an A330, which is equipped with modern inflight entertainment with a large selection of movies and music. The legroom on the aircraft was very generous, and the reclining seats enabled us to take a restful nap while on the flight. The inflight meals were inspired by Turkish cuisine, rich in flavor and nutritionally balanced, with plenty of refreshments being served during the flight for hydration and wellness.
Arrival, IST
As we arrived at the world’s 7th busiest airport, the Istanbul International airport (IST), we were awed by its sheer size and modern facilities. Orderly ground handlers provided us with clear directions to the transit counters for our onward connecting flight. We learned that the airport has the capacity to handle over 200 million passengers annually with its state-of-the-art facilities, escalators to facilitate ease of movement between terminals, clear signage providing directions, and very friendly ground crew who were always at hand to assist with any requests. The washrooms at the airport facility were very clean and well-maintained by a permanently stationed steward who ensures the washrooms are hygienic and clean.
The airport immigration process was very seamless. Immigration officers scanned our passports and verified our visa documents. Following that, a photo was taken, and we were cleared to proceed into Turkiye seamlessly. The immigration officers were highly professional and attentive to travelers, and they served with a smile.
Cappadocia
Our transit to Cappadocia went smoothly since we had checked our luggage through from Nairobi. While waiting for our connecting flight, we relaxed at the domestic departure lounge, enjoyed refreshments, and caught up on work using the high-speed Wi-Fi. Our departure to Cappadocia was on time, and we flew via an A320 aircraft optimized for Economy class seating capacity with three rows. Upon landing, we smoothly claimed our luggage and exited the neat and well-organized Cappadocia airport.
On Tuesday 25th April 2023 at 0400hrs, we departed for the hot air balloon trip and experienced the spectacular landscape and sunrise in Cappadocia. It was an unforgettable experience as large hot air balloons took to the sky, adding color and vibrancy to the surroundings. It was a major tourist attraction and even drew wedding groups who held their ceremonies inside the balloons. Watching the sun rise from the horizon into the city of Cappadocia was a heavenly experience, connecting us to Mother Nature. Cappadocia is a region rich in culture, heritage, and history with 365 ancient churches in Goreme. The geological valleys resembling objects or features are known as fairy chimneys.
Our visit to Cappadocia also included a tour of the Avanos town, famous for pottery making from the Hittite civilization. We had a great practical experience of pottery making and appreciated the patience and special skills required in crafting the pottery. Traditionally, the pottery was used as a measure of a groom’s skills before he could be given the hand in marriage of a bride.
Cappadocia is also famous for its precious stones, and we toured the gemstone factory to learn about the three popular stones: Onyx, Zultanite, and Turquoise. The stones are cleaned, cut, and polished into beautiful jewelry. The Zultanite stone was particularly breathtaking as it changes color by the light source between yellowish green, light gold, and purplish pink!
On Wednesday, we flew back to Istanbul city through the Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport on a TK A320 flight. The airport was busy with tourist groups visiting Cappadocia, making it a lively place. We arrived in Istanbul on time and transferred to our hotel effortlessly. During this season, there were heavy rains, and we took the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely afternoon experiencing the buzz of Istanbul city, its people, and culture.
Bosphorus
On Thursday 27th April 2023, we visited the famous Bosphorus Bridge, which was built in 1973 to connect Turkey with Europe and Asia. It is the world’s fourth-longest suspension bridge that crosses the Bosphorous strait and is also known as the 15th July Martyrs Bridge, or the First Bridge. After that, we went to Istanbul’s spice bazaar, which is located within the New Mosque complex and offers a wide variety of spices, dried fruits, nuts, and jewelry.
TURSAB – The Association of Turkish Travel Agents
Friday was our last day of this eye-opening trip, which expanded our worldview and inspired a new perspective and energy to promote travel to Turkey and expose our fellow Kenyans to its rich culture, heritage, and business linkages. We were hosted by TURSAB, The Association of Turkish Travel Agents, for a courtesy visit led by KATA CEO to discuss potential areas of collaboration and partnership in promoting reciprocal travel between Kenya and Turkey. Ms Nergis Buyukkinaci, the Group Head of Corporate Communications, and Ms Aysila Sildir, the Corporate Communications Manager, hosted us at their TURSAB offices, and they shared their insightful vision for promoting travel to Turkey through KATA Travel Agents by offering training workshops to promote growth and educational trips to build confidence in promoting travel and MICE tourism to Turkey.
Turkish Airline Academy
Our final stop was at the Turkish Airlines Aviation Academy, where we were given a tour of the flight simulators, and we appreciated Turkish Airlines’ commitment to passenger safety. The crew is extensively trained on various emergency scenarios that could arise onboard a flight, giving them practical experience. Turkish Airlines has invested heavily in their flight training center, and we were awed by the professionalism and dedication of the crew to learn and follow through on instructions while upholding high-performance standards. Our highlight was the tour of the Turkish Airlines Museum, which showcased the journey of the airline since 1933, followed by an immersive experience of the Boeing 737 Aircraft Simulator. Turkish Airlines is a grounded carrier, upholding very high standards of safety and professionalism and deep values of honesty, respect, and teamwork.
We celebrate the Turkish Airlines leadership team based in Kenya, led by their Country Manager Mr. Oguzcan, our fam trip companion Mr. Bashir, who speaks Turkish fluently and made it easy for us to communicate with our hosts, and Ms. Priscilla, who coordinated the travel logistics and the entire TK team that made this trip a memorable experience for the agents. KATA works collaboratively with airlines to promote travel to key business and leisure destinations, and we celebrate this great partnership with Turkish Airlines. We look forward to growing together as one team and one spirit.
