‘Yes I’m going’: Turkey tourism campaign launched in Norway

Norwegians have launched a social media campaign in reaction to the country’s airliners reducing the numbers of their flights and tours to Turkey, in addition to raising ticket prices. Campaigners also demanded that tourism firms increase their capacity of Turkey-bound flights especially for the 2018 season.

A campaign that was launched on Facebook to voice annoyance using the hashtag #JaJegReiser (YesIamgoing) has gone viral which has reached half a million people so far.

Sixty-seven-year old Steinar Johansen and communications student Çınar Şimşek, who launched the campaign, noted that supporters of the “Yes I’m Going” hashtag complained particularly about the low number of Turkey-bound flights and of expensive ticket prices.

A Facebook user expressed his annoyance on a page titled Alanya Scandinavian Community (Alanya Skandinaviske i Samfunn Alanya), which boasts over 10,000 followers, writing the following comment: "What can I do if airlines and charter companies cut off all the roads?" and another suggested that a direct complain should be lodged at travel companies to draw attention to the issue.

Another page follower had this to say: "It is time for people to understand that there is [no] war in Turkey and it is safe to visit the country," "Here in Norway winter is cold, I recommend warm coast in the far south" and "I returned from Alanya two weeks ago and I am looking forward to going again."

Travel agencies and the Norwegian press have took note of the campaign listing complaints, and showing interest in Turkey reported on the story.

Norwegian national newspaper ABC Nyheter covered the campaign extensively.

Campaign organizer Johansen said in an interview with the newspaper that Norwegians would like travel agencies and airline companies to know that that they want to go to Turkey.

He went on to say that he went to Alanya six years ago for the first the time and that he has been regularly visiting Turkey both in summer and winter ever since, referring to the friendly and helpful Turkish people.

Nora Aspegren, a tourism company representative, said they detected an increase in Norwegians' interest in Turkey toward the end of summer, adding that they plan to increase their capacity by 25 percent during the summer of 2018.

Norwegian Air representative Lassa Sandaker-Nielsen said that there was a drop in demand in the months leading to the summer due to terror attacks, however, she noted that starting this summer there was a large uptick in the number of holidaymakers flying to Turkey.