INCA’s associate in Turkey, Kazim Uzunoglu

Today is June 9, 2020. As I am writing these lines, I was supposed to be riding my motorcycle, leading a group of American motorcyclists on a two-week motorcycle tour starting in Venice and ending in Istanbul. Instead of being on the road, I am here in Istanbul, sitting in my office at home.

Our tour was going to start in Venice, a unique gem with superb examples of architecture, situated on stilts in a marshy lagoon. It is a floating masterpiece and a perfect manifestation of mankind’s ability to adapt to nature while building cities and civilizations. Before coronavirus, this fragile city felt like it was bursting at the seams as gargantuan cruise ships cast massive shadows blocking sunlight and hordes of tourists wielding selfie sticks elbowed their way through St Mark’s to get the best “instagrammable” shot. St Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge are now frequented by locals once forced to flee their city due to over tourism. Even fish have returned to the now clear canals. The question now is whether tourism can return in a sustainable form or fall victim once again to insatiable demand. The fact that I have been a part of this global travel business for over 30 years and still rely on the “return of tourism” for my livelihood remains a paradox.

I don’t have a solution to offer other than my hopes that the market forces will make certain corrections and the delicate equilibrium between global travel demand and its effects on local communities and environments will somehow be maintained in the long term. One solution seems to be “travel bubbles” slowly emerging between neighboring countries sharing similar cultures, such as the Scandinavian countries or the Baltic states. However, once the global aviation industry returns in force, we may see the return of selfie stick duels in front of Rome’s Trevi Fountain and the return of the murky waters in Venice.

In addition to my pontification on global tourism, let me provide some local news from Turkey. We were finally expecting 2020 to be a “good” year in tourism, after unfortunate incidents that profoundly rocked the country in 2016. We have always relied on the fact that Turkey is a highly desirable tourist destination, from its pristine beaches along the Aegean and the Mediterranean to its rich history and culture. After four years of stagnation, we were finally warming up for a rebound in tourism in 2020. Everybody from busboys to tour bus drivers, from guides to shopkeepers in the Grand Bazaar had high hopes for a lucrative year. Well, I guess the most fitting quote for this situation is “if you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans”.

The tourist industry in Turkey employs approximately 2 million people, meaning 2 million families rely on tourism to make a decent living. Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP of Turkey was above 12% so the government is desperately trying to entice foreign travelers to return to Turkey. Beaches, museums and archaeological sites had been closed for over three months. The “normalization calendar” that kicked off on June 1, is now seeing them reopen. I am receiving videos and photos from all our partners on a daily basis, demonstrating they are taking all the necessary measures to welcome guests once again. The Turkish Ministry of Health has fought a relatively successful battle against coronavirus. Despite some initial missteps, the overall consensus is that Turkey has handled the pandemic better than many other countries. Thanks to curfews, high rates of testing, and the billions of dollars invested in hospitals and health care in the last decade, the recovery rates have been high.

While we have had plenty of time to read, ponder, chat with friends and family, work on postponed home projects, I have to admit I have been enjoying having no work responsibilities during these surreal times. Yet, I am already looking forward to the days when we will be welcoming INCA guests back to Turkey and the days that I will be riding my motorcycle in Italy and in Austria.  Inshallah next year!

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About Kazim Uzunoglu

After graduating from University of Virginia with a degree in Economics in the early 1990s, Kazim returned to Istanbul to apply his new skills. Kazim met Bill Roberson, founder of INCA, in 1996 while Bill was exploring Turkey on an initial scouting trip to for INCA’s next destination. Kazim joined Bill to develop in-depth and enriching adventures in Turkey for the discerning travelers of INCA.

Inspired to a new career and at Bill’s invitation, Kazim came to California to spend eight months at INCA’s office in Emeryville. During his time in California, Kazim had the good fortune and support to turn a passion since childhood—motorcycle riding—into motorcycle adventures for visitors to Turkey and beyond. After 20 years and 300,000 miles, these motorcycle tours have enabled Kazim to explore over 40 countries with like-minded riders. Some of these adventures extend to more challenging destinations including Iran, Dagestan, Chechnya, Moldova, Armenia, Syria, and Albania. Kazim looks forward to welcoming adventurers who are passionate about discovering new lands, no matter their transportation preference.