Levent Koçoğlu, a member of the Cunda Tourism Association, promotes the culture and tourism of the coastal Ayvalık town of the Aegean region in different parts of the world. Last year in June, Koçoğlu set off on a promotional tour on his motorbike from Ayvalık's Cunda (Alibey) Island. He visited Georgia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Siberia and South Korea. He later arrived in the U.S. and toured around Los Angeles, Alaska, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Bolivia, Panama Ecuador, San Salvador, Belize and lastly Buenos Aires, Argentine's capital. The passionate traveler introduced the history, culture and underwater beauties of Ayvalık to foreigners.
Running a boutique hotel on the Cunda Island, Koçoğlu said he wanted to travel around the world on his motorbike and introduce Ayvalık to everyone he met during his journey. "I have traveled 47,000 kilometers so far. Ayvalık Mayor Rahmi Gençer sent me English catalogs about the district and its famous olive oil. I gave the brochures to the officials I met at different places and invited them to visit the district," he continued. Koçoğlu offered olive oil to the mayors and governors in the U.S. and Argentina. "Ayvalık: A paradise worth visiting" was also one of the catalogs he presented to them. Mayor Gençer said that Koçoğlu acts like a tourism ambassador, adding "We greatly support his encouragement. I believe his efforts will contribute to Ayvalık's tourism industry."
