ABOUT NOVITAS

NOVITAS means "novelties, news or new starts" in Latin.
NOVITAS Tourism and Travel agency was established in 1997, as a synthesis of long years of experience in the sector of tourism.
It is a fully functioning travel agency with the "A Catogory Business Licence" issued by the Ministery of Tourism of the Turkish Republic; it is also a member of TURSAB, the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies.
NOVITAS is further an institutional member of TIES, the International Ecotourism Society.
Its main fields of activity are incoming and outgoing operations, congresses, incentives and all sorts of meeting organizations , hotel reservations, ticketing and cruises. All the programs of NOVITAS Tourism are unique; they are specifically designed thanks to the wide range of information and experience of its "brain team", especially in the field of cultural tours.
In addition to its package programs, "tailor-made" programs are also designed upon request. It is sufficient to contact NOVITAS to have an organized tour anywhere in Turkey.
The touristic conception of NOVITAS is based on a philosophy that does not consider tourism merely as a means of consumption but embraces it with its natural and cultural surroundings. In all NOVITAS tours ecological and local cultural considerations have priority. The founders of NOVITAS are also the founders of the first and only " Ecotourism Society" of Turkey. Thus NOVITAS meticulously abides by the rules and regulations of ecotourism. As a natural result, part of the income of NOVITAS tours is regularly donated to the Ecotourism Society, which supports "nature-friendly and sustainable tourism".
By taking a tour with NOVITAS, you will automatically contribute to the protection of Turkey's unique natural and cultural riches against any possible damages caused by inconsiderate tourism. You will also have contributed to future generations enjoyment.

FOUNDERS OF NOVITAS

Gülsen Kırbaş , M.A. (Art History)
Born in Istanbul in 1957, she studied Molecular Biology and worked in research field before becoming involved in tourism. This experience equipped her with environmental conciousness and passion for nature and all of its elements.
Later she worked as a professional guide for a number of years.
In 1995 she became the co-founder of Idol Travel Agency. In 1997 she established NOVITAS. The historical, archaeological and cultural riches of Turkey encouraged her expertise in art history and motivated her. She studies Art History and achieved a Master's degree in A.H. The topic of her M.A. thesis is "Changes seen in the Physiognomy of Istanbul during Westernization in the 19th Century ".
She is an expert on history and architecture of Istanbul and the Ottoman period in general. She and her partner organize unique tour programs based upon meticulous research.

Gülsen Kırbaş is founder and currently president of the first Ecotourism Society in Turkey. She is fluent in English and German and interpretes Latin and Ottoman Turkish.

Evcimen Perçin, M.A. (Art History)
Born in Istanbul in 1950, she graduated from the National Fine Arts Academy of Istanbul ( at present Mimar Sinan University), in Visual Arts/Stage Design. She has been active as a stage designer and art director. In additon, she has been a professional tourist guide in German since 1985. Her M.A. thesis was on "The Istanbul of Byzantium." She is particularly interested in the history and archaeology of Istanbul, specialising in the Byzantine era. She speaks German and English.