Uber Technologies Inc. has now ventured into the realm of booking hot air balloon rides for its customers in the picturesque Cappadocia region of Turkey. This marks the latest stride taken by the company as it endeavors to expand its ride-booking enterprise and carve out a niche among the prominent players in the travel and tourism industry.
For users looking to book hot air balloon rides through Uber, the process involves reserving one of the 20 available seats on a 1.5-hour sunrise flight, a service that costs €150 (equivalent to $159). This journey takes them to an elevation of 3,000 feet (or 914.4 meters) above the UNESCO-listed volcanic terrain of Cappadocia.
Cappadocia stands as one of Turkey’s foremost tourist attractions, renowned for its 10th-century churches and cave cities, as highlighted in a statement released by Uber on Monday (October 23). In 2022, this region accounted for approximately 10 percent of the 44.6 million foreign visitors who flocked to Turkey.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Turkey has set an ambitious target of attracting 60 million tourists to the country in 2023.
Uber’s foray into the hot air balloon service aligns with the company’s overarching vision, articulated by Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi, who aspires to transform Uber into “the operating system for everyday life.”
The company has been rolling out novel travel options primarily in international markets outside the United States. These include offerings like Tuk-Tuk bookings in India, flight reservations in the UK, and seasonal boat services in Greece.
According to a report featured in The Telegraph, the launch of this new hot air balloon service by Uber coincides with Turkey’s centenary year. To celebrate this milestone, Uber is providing free rides to the initial 100 customers. It’s important to note that reserving seats for the hot air balloon adventure won’t be as impromptu as hailing a ride; users are required to book their spots at least 12 hours in advance through Uber’s Reserve section.
Uber has identified Turkey as one of its rapidly expanding markets, with the number of app-based trips surging by more than 50 percent compared to the previous year. The company has onboarded over 30,000 active taxi drivers across nine Turkish cities, with the highest concentration found in Istanbul.
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