Turkish automobile association

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Touring and Automobile Club of Turkey, also known as Turkish automobile association, is an amateur international organization dedicated to tourism and the automobile sector founded in 1923 with the request of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to Reşit Saffet Atabinen who was a diplomat of the Republic of Turkey at the time.

[edit] Atatürk Period

Club worked as an arm of government as ordered by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. It published information regarding tourism, and culture of the new Republic during this period. Turkey’s first prospectuses, posters, tourist guides and road maps was published by the association. The biggest achievement was the Turkey's first tourism congresses and later an international conference during the interwar period.

Most controversial activity of the club was opening the Ottoman Dynasty related buildings to tourism. This could not be archived without the Mustafa Kemal's personal protection. Mustafa Kemal formally opened the Dolmabahçe Palace with a ceremony and announced to the Istanbul press [at the time defender of the Dynasty] that modern way of living requires new way of functioning.

[edit] After WWII

With the change of economy Turkey during 1950's, the Association with its original employees and system could not undertake the responsibilities of its new functions. In 1951 the Office was managed by Said N.Duhani which constantly updated the system.