TÜRSABLAŞAN TUREB ve Balık Yağı Turist Rehberleri

Summary

The speaker critically discusses the state of the Turkish tourism guide industry, particularly focusing on TURP (Tourism Guides Union of Turkey) and its impact since 2012. They highlight the growing bureaucracy, questioning the benefits of mandatory memberships and the organization’s failure to provide tangible support to guides. The speaker also compares TURP to other similar organizations, like TURSAB, and calls for a reform that prioritizes the interests of members rather than exploiting them. Ultimately, the speaker expresses hope for a clearer, more beneficial structure within the industry.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker criticizes the increasing bureaucracy in the Turkish travel guide profession since 2012, particularly due to the role of TURP and TÜRSAB.
• 😀 TURP and similar organizations are viewed as benefiting more from membership fees than offering tangible support or services to guides.
• 😀 The speaker highlights the frustration with the frequent renewal of professional certification cards for guides, comparing it to unnecessary bureaucratic processes like passport renewals.
• 😀 There is a perceived disconnect between the aims of professional organizations like TURP and the actual needs of guides, leading to a lack of trust in these institutions.
• 😀 The speaker expresses disappointment with the transformation of organizations such as TURP from supportive entities to profit-driven ones that exploit their members.
• 😀 Before 2012, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism directly managed many aspects of the guide profession, and there was less bureaucracy involved.
• 😀 Membership in TURP and similar organizations should be voluntary, but the speaker believes that without mandatory membership, many guides would choose not to join.
• 😀 The speaker calls for a new system that prioritizes the welfare of its members rather than viewing them as a source of revenue.
• 😀 There is criticism of the double bureaucracy that guides face, dealing with both government processes and separate organizational requirements like TÜRSAB.
• 😀 The speaker advocates for a system where organizations like TURP work to genuinely support their members and protect their interests, instead of focusing on profit from their membership fees.

Q & A

What is the speaker's main frustration with TURP since 2012?

The speaker's main frustration with TURP is that it has become more bureaucratic and less focused on the professional development of tour guides. They believe the organization is now more concerned with benefiting from members rather than offering tangible support or services.

How does the speaker compare TURP to the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB)?

The speaker compares TURP to TÜRSAB by highlighting that both organizations create unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles for their members. In both cases, mandatory membership and separate bureaucratic processes from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism are seen as problematic.

What does the speaker think about the bureaucracy surrounding tour guides since 2012?

The speaker believes that since 2012, the bureaucracy imposed on tour guides has increased unnecessarily. Previously, many administrative tasks were handled by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, but now TURP has taken over those duties, adding to the burden of tour guides without offering real benefits.

What specific example does the speaker give to show the absurdity of the current bureaucratic system?

The speaker compares the frequent renewal of the 'kokart' (work card) for tour guides to other long-term documents like passports or driving licenses, suggesting that it is unnecessarily changed every year, unlike other crucial documents which have longer validity periods.

What was the situation like for tour guides before 2012, according to the speaker?

Before 2012, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism handled most of the administrative duties related to tour guides. There were fewer bureaucratic procedures, and tour guides only had to attend mandatory seminars a few times a year. The process was simpler and more direct.

How does the speaker view the role of membership fees in organizations like TURP and TÜRSAB?

The speaker views membership fees as a major point of frustration. They believe that both TURP and TÜRSAB primarily benefit from the fees collected from their members, rather than providing meaningful services or support in return.

What does the speaker believe is the primary focus of TURP and similar organizations now?

The speaker believes that TURP and similar organizations, such as TÜRSAB, are now primarily focused on maintaining their power and extracting resources from their members, rather than genuinely supporting the interests and professional development of those they represent.

What does the speaker suggest is needed in the tourism sector?

The speaker suggests that there is a need for a new system that prioritizes protecting the interests of members rather than exploiting them for financial gain. They call for an organization that genuinely supports its members and promotes professionalism in the field.

How does the speaker feel about the promises made by TURP and the chambers of tourism during election periods?

The speaker is highly skeptical about the promises made by TURP and the chambers of tourism during election periods. They suggest that these promises are often empty and that the organizations are more concerned with their own agendas rather than the real needs of the tour guides.

What is the speaker’s overall opinion about the current state of the tourism industry and its organizations?

The speaker expresses disillusionment with the current state of the tourism industry and its organizations. They believe that the focus has shifted away from supporting the professional growth of tour guides and towards bureaucratic control and financial exploitation. They hope for a change, but remain skeptical about the likelihood of improvement.