BURHAN SİLİ: Our Expectations for 2024 are High.

The President of ALTİD, Burhan Sili, answered questions about the ITB Berlin Fair and the 2024 tourism season during a program he attended on TRT Antalya Radio.

Burhan Sili, the Chairman of the Alanya Tourism Operators Association (ALTİD), participated in the "Regional Agenda" program on TRT Antalya Radio and shared his evaluations of the ITB Berlin Fair, which took place on March 5-7, and his expectations for the 2024 tourism season. The key points from Sili's speech are as follows:

"Representatives from all over the world are coming together in BERLIN."

President Sili stated that throughout the year, Alanya participates in various tourism fairs in different countries to promote the season and its products. "We participate in fairs in the Scandinavian countries, Central European countries, England, the Netherlands, Dubai, and many other source markets. However, the difference between the ITB Berlin Fair and other fairs is that while other fairs generally only have representatives from that specific country, Berlin has representatives from all over the world. This makes the ITB Berlin Fair a crucial event where we can clearly understand the upcoming season and meet with representatives from all source markets. In this regard, the ITB Berlin Fair is extremely important. This year, we again had a highly attended and effective fair process with participation from countries and continents around the world, showcasing a wide range of products. Both Turkey's stand and the Alanya region's stand were very popular and provided a pleasant experience. Therefore, when we evaluate this process, we believe that we have achieved significant success in the discussions and work we have carried out regarding the upcoming season. In addition, various products were also present at the fair. Especially considering that the entire world is becoming increasingly digital, the marketing process is evolving into a different methodology. In addition to the classic marketing methods that we are familiar with, the ITB Berlin Fair also had a very large digital marketing section, which was of great interest. We are also adapting to this process in terms of marketing. In addition to our traditional networks, we are also actively working in these digital areas."

"ALANYA STAND WELCOMED VISITORS FROM THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION IN BERLIN."

Sili stated that Alanya participated in the ITB Berlin Fair this year with a 80-square-meter stand. "Our stand included 7 tables and a meeting room. Our stand was not only visited by hoteliers from the Alanya region, but also by hoteliers from other cities in the Mediterranean region, who came to meet with tour operators and conduct meetings. On the other hand, our large-volume tour operators also met with hoteliers at our stand. As you know, the ITB Berlin Fair is a very expensive event, and even for large tour operators, having a stand is often not enough. Therefore, they conduct meetings with various other entities. At our stand, both tour operators from our different source markets and our own hoteliers held meetings. We participated with a large stand specifically to provide this opportunity, and Alanya was successful in this regard."

"Alanya's tourism is developing with German guests."

Sili stated that the three main markets in the Mediterranean region, in terms of numbers, are Russia, Germany, and England. "Germany has been the country that sends the most guests to the world for many years, and is a very important source market. Therefore, while Alanya's tourism started with the French in the 1950s and 60s, it developed based on the demand of the Germans. Today, Germany is one of the countries that sends the most guests to Turkey, specifically to Antalya and Alanya. When we look at the figures from last year and previous years, it is very important that we never lose the German market. On the other hand, I want to emphasize that we need to create new demands. Because, by their nature, Germans, once they start staying in a region or a hotel, if they are satisfied, they do not change it for years. However, we need to create a process in which this new generation will also show more interest in our country, taking into account the expectations of the new generation, their product preferences, their disinterest in traditional marketing methods, and their interest in new digital marketing. In this context, the German market is extremely important, not only for our region but for the whole world."

"One of the things that Türkiye does best is tourism."

Addressing a question regarding the problems and increasing figures in the tourism sector due to the pandemic, President Sili stated, "I want to emphasize an important point. As you know, the Türkiye Turizm Tanıtım ve Geliştirme Ajansı (TGA) was established in Turkey in 2019. Despite being much later than countries that we might consider competitors and influential players in tourism, we have achieved significant success in marketing. Thanks to the TGA, a significant effort was made during the pandemic in 2020. Maintaining air routes to our country in 2020, and even though many of our facilities were closed that year, being able to accommodate a limited number of guests, was important. Looking at the overall situation in Turkey, and specifically in Alanya and Antalya, we maintained the flow of guests despite the pandemic. Therefore, the recovery and growth in 2021-2022 were much faster compared to other countries. In 2023, we had the opportunity to serve guests with record-breaking numbers, both in our country as a whole and in our region. On the other hand, thanks to the efforts of the Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı (Ministry of Culture and Tourism), the spread of tourism to all 81 provinces of Turkey, the work done for different products and different source markets, and the efforts to increase demand for Turkey, have been extremely beneficial for the development of Turkish tourism and the tourism in our region. Regarding 2024, based on all the fairs we attended from October onwards, the meetings we held with tour operators and industry professionals, and the preliminary reservation figures we have, I can say that we are expecting an extremely positive season with numbers exceeding those of 2023. One of the best things Turkey does is tourism. I always say this: tourism is Turkey's oil, its gold, whatever you want to call it, but the tourism sector is extremely important and indispensable for Turkey. Therefore, if there are no major disruptions worldwide in the upcoming season, we expect to have a positive season and continue to contribute to Turkey."