Marmara Group Foundation has attended the "South East Europe Tourism" Conference in Belgrade. Dr. Akkan Suver and Mr. Kenan Acıkök have participated to the conference in which the Deputy Minister of Trade, Toursim and Telecommunications of Repuclic of Serbia Ms. Renata Pindzo has made the opening speech.

The Minister of Tourism and Environment of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina H.E. Prof.Dr. Edita Dapo and the Tourism Minister of the Bosnia's Serb Republic H.E. Predrag Gluhakovic were present as the guests of honor at the conference.

The conference initiated with the speech given by the CEO of the Mass Media International Mr. Milivoje Radovanic.

Dr. Akkan Suver has took floor at the conference and talked about the importance of Religion Tourism in the Tourism Industry.

The representatives from Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, People's Republic of China, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, South Korea and Bulgaria have attended the conference.

Speech of Dr. Akkan Suver, the President of the Marmara Group Foundation, at the 6^th Business Conference “South East Europe Tourism - SEET2016”; 28^th September 2016, Sava Centre of Belgrade (Serbia)

Dear President, Precious Participants,

Here today, we are going to deal with the importance and future of the tourism sector. In the first place, please allow me – prior to my address – to express my wholehearted thanks to the hosts of the 6^th Business Conference “South East Europe Tourism - SEET2016” for their kind hospitality and friendly reception.

First of all, I regard tourism as a gateway to the peace; hence, I shall bring to the agenda the significance of tourism in terms of peace and stability. Tourism will not be flourishing where the institutionalized framework for peace and stability is not already provided. Proceeding from an example from our neighboring region, for nearly five years, we have been going through a grotesque war and watching on detestable faces of terrorism in our very immediate region. Whilst taking into account the circumstance, how will it be possible for us to pronounce peace, let alone tourism?

When we take a close look at the bloodbath and tears shed in the Middle East in the name of peace within the last five decades, and how human dignity has been disparaged, the universal values of human rights have been violated and how terror trouble has been instrumental zed to relocate masses of people of different backgrounds, we feel then the need to turn our whole attention to the experience of the Balkans.

This experience is cardinal in its idiosyncratic exemplariness that harbors quasi superior humanitarian values which we all readily make mention of, but fail to act. In the light of this example, the historical and current experiences of Balkan region can be a role model for the whole world in creating an understanding that renders possible peace in coexistence, an approach to perceive diversities as innate riches.

From my point of view, faith tourism, as a correlative term, can also be touched upon in that sense. This aspect enables us to familiarize ourselves with our past and present assets, makes a significant contribution to humanity by promoting dialogue, tolerance, reciprocal acquaintance and peace.

Broadly speaking, each mind is a different world, so does a tourist have. Assuming that there are 6,5 billion people on earth, so, we have 6,5 billion different worlds.   

Admittedly, the existence of tourism relies on peace. Just imagine a region which has been completely destroyed and burnt down to the ground, you cannot enjoy tourism to the fullest; the other way sounds nothing other than building castles in the air.

It will not be a daydream to swim, sunbathe, ski, sightsee in the canyons, visit museums, and enjoy cultural activities and health tourism within the boundaries of the regions in which peace manifests itself in various ways.

A crucial point of tourism is to witness the cultural and civilizational heritage of the geography paid visit to. Another point of civilization and culture that requires a special attention is the existence of religious beliefs; in other words, faith tourism. Faith tourism does not solely consist of the pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca, the Holy Visits of Catholics to Vatican and Rome, the Holy Visits of Orthodoxies to Jerusalem and Ephesus or of the Prayers of Jews at the Wailing Wall.

A historical sample, a component or a remnant of an architectural entity, which was inherited from a civilization and was extant in every region in the form of a church, tomb, monastery, synagogue and mosque or even an olive tree remained standing from a many centuries ago, is an important element of the faith tourism.

What I mean to say is that stability and peace are the key factors that help make all these things happen.

Faith tourism, on the other hand, can be considered as the backyard of the history, culture and veneration that pave the way to the stability and peace.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are in Serbia.

In this magnificent, breathtaking country, have you ever wondered the Temple of Saint Sava, the Name of Mary Church, the Monastery of Velika Remeta, and Monasteries of Fruška Gora?

Or is there anyone who plans to visit the Sukkat Shalom Synagogue?    

Well, have you ever been to the Bajraklı Mosque in Belgrade?

Apart from these, do you ever plan to tour the Belgrade or Niš Fortress?

Or rather, is there anyone who wants to visit the Crveni Krst – the Red Cross Concentration Camp of Nazi Germany, laden with bitter memories from the Second World War?

Today, the Vrnjacka Banja will certainly be put on the agenda and be mentioned as the apple of the eye of the Serbia’s Thermal Tourism.      

Our tomorrows will be more rosy when we attach the same importance to history, culture and faith tourism as we do it for the health in the field of tourism.     

Please allow me to sum up my words with a contemporary evaluation as follows:

"Respecting the faith of others does not mean alienating your own faith. On the contrary, only a person who respects his own faith can feel respect for the other's faith and needs."

In concluding my speech, I would like to congratulate – once again – those who have contributed to this elegant organization and wish that this meeting will be of great benefit to Balkan tourism and the people of the region.

Dr. Akkan Suver and Mr. Kenan Acıkök have visited and left flowers to the statue of Heydar Aliyev and  the mausoleum of Josip Broz Tito in Belgrade.