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Co-Founder, Turquaz Group, Süreyya Umran Alinak has stressed the urgency for Nigeria’s hospitality sector to align with international best practices, underscoring the significance of adhering to established standards, particularly in such matters as confidentiality and guest interactions.
The tourism expert made the recommendation recently in an exclusive interview with The Guardian.
Alinak has been quietly dedicated to initiatives in Nigeria for the past six years with a notable emphasis on capacity-building. With 26 years’ experience in the tourism industry, Alinak and her company have played a pivotal role in offering Nigerians a diverse array of services, spanning health tourism to fostering knowledge enrichment within organizations and groups.
Organizing her services into three distinct categories under the Turquaz Group umbrella, Sureyya’s endeavors include packaging of Christian Pilgrimage, Meeting Tourism and Cultural Tourism through “Afrosum Holidays”. Health Services are carried out under the banner of “Turquaz Health Tourism” while the Capacity Building Trainings are carried out together with her partner, Ms. Seda Diker, who is the founder of “Turkey Trainings”.
Both of them collaborate in the Nigerian-Turkish summit and grow the business opportunities between Nigerians and Turkey as well as Calabar Carnival. Their focus is to develop businesses and relationship with Nigeria and other ECOWAS member nations.
In an exclusive interview with The Guardian, Alınak, affectionately known as Sureyya, disclosed that her company’s scope surpasses medical tourism and educational endeavors for Nigerians. According to her, the group engages deeply across multiple sectors, effectively integrating activities and enterprises, including consultancy services aimed at honing workforce skills across diverse segments of Nigeria’s economy. A key highlight was her role in fostering business relationships between Nigeria and Turkish entrepreneurs.
The Co-founder of Turkey Trainings Ms. Diker, said: “Our Nigerian- Turkish-based company offers invaluable learning opportunities on crucial issues through the expertise of Turkish professionals and experts. Leveraging our network of over 100 institutions and universities in Turkey, we consistently provide tailored programs to meet the unique needs of each client.”
“Spanning a duration from a week to a month or more, these bespoke programs encompass a broad spectrum of topics, including agriculture, aquaculture, business leadership and procurement regulations. Esteemed professors and Ph. D holders play pivotal roles as resource persons in these comprehensive courses.
“Whether executed as “insight” programs within Turkey or “off-site” trainings in Nigeria, these initiatives are meticulously designed to empower public officials and private sector stakeholders. Notably, upon successful completion, participants receive globally recognized and valued certificates.”
Navigating the intricacies of visa procurement for potential attendees, Sureyya underscored adherence to standardized processes, highlighting that meeting prerequisites enhances the prospects of obtaining a visa. She added that possessing prior UK, American or European visas can expedite the visa process by intending clients.
With presence in Nigeria since 2017, Sureyya expressed gratification in receiving affirmative responses from Nigerians across their diverse programs. In the realm of tourism, her company provides both theoretical and practical training, encompassing the entirety of the tourism and hospitality value chain, complemented by hands-on internships in hotels to reinforce learning.
Speaking on the affordability of the training programs, Süreyya asserted that the fees remained affordable with the added advantage of diplomas holding recognition within Europe. For those undergoing training in Turkey, the experience mirrors European standards.
The genesis of Süreyya’s drive to contribute to Nigeria’s development can be traced to her second visit to the country. This led to initiatives such as Christian pilgrimage packages and collaborations with hospitals for medical tourism. The fact that her company holds an international medical tourism license underscores her commitment to health and wellness pursuits.
She highlighted that her company is currently serving as the Turkey promotion and sales agent for the second Akwaaba Medical Tourism Expo, a role held for the past two years. She would be bringing approximately 10 of Turkey’s leading medical institutions to the event scheduled to take place in Lagos between September 3 and 5. Health tourism intermediary organizations are expected at the event.
Süreyya’s company, which has forged partnerships with the Nigerian government, aims to extend its influence across varied sectors. Events like the Turkey-Nigeria Investment Summit amplified cooperation between Nigerian and Turkish business communities, fostering innovative ideas and entrepreneurship.
Acknowledging Nigeria’s strides in infrastructure, education and technology, Süreyya expressed admiration for the country’s upward trajectory. Reflecting on her business journey in Nigeria, she lauded the favourable business environment, citing the support from the Nigerian Import Promotion Commission and the government’s openness to international trade.
Operating actively in six Nigerian states, Sureyya’s company has garnered robust backing from state governors. Presently collaborating with the new governor of Cross River State, her focus centers on enhancing the state’s tourism potential with particular attention on the city of Calabar, which she said, holds promising prospects as an international tourism destination.
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