The Board of Directors members of the Turkish Hotel Association (TÜROFED) met with the Minister of Culture and Tourism Nabi Avcı in Istanbul. The meeting, held under the leadership of TÜROFED Board of Directors President Osman Ayık, was attended by TÜROFED Vice Presidents Mehmet İşler, Sururi Çorabatır, Yavuz Torunoğulları, TÜROFED Board of Directors Members Burhan Sili, Bülent Bülbüloğlu, and bureaucrats.
JULY 15 EVALUATION CONDUCTED
Evaluating the meeting held with Minister Avcı, Burhan Sili, President of the Alanya Tourist Operators Association (ALTİD) and Board Member of TÜROFED, stated that they conveyed to Minister Avcı, both verbally and in writing, the actions that must be taken urgently for the sector to emerge from its current situation. Stating that they made assessments regarding tourism before and after July 15, Sili said, “Our Honorable Minister evaluated the problems we conveyed immediately with his bureaucrats, advisors, and general managers. Expressing that it was a useful meeting, he also emphasized that he would increase the frequency of similar meetings.”
SİLİ CONVEYED THE PROBLEMS OF ALANYA
Stating that he specifically conveyed issues unique to the Alanya region, Sili said, “We addressed the issue of service points located in the coastal area. We discussed the transition from the practice of paying occupation fees as a penalty to a rental system. We spoke about the international perception of Turkey and Alanya, promotion, image, Gazipaşa-Alanya Airport strategies, and structural problems in a general sense along with bed supply. When I invited Mr. Avcı to Alanya, he expressed that he would definitely come to Alanya.”
“STUDIES ON QUALIFIED PERSONNEL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED”
Minister Nabi Avcı, approaching TÜROFED’s demands positively, stated that the demands would be evaluated and the expectations of tourism professionals would be met as soon as possible. Avcı also drew attention to the necessity of conducting studies regarding qualified personnel in tourism and promised to meet with tourism professionals again as soon as possible. TÜROFED’s demands to Minister of Culture and Tourism Avcı were as follows.
WRITTEN REQUESTS SUBMITTED TO AVCI:
1. In order to be able to manage our debt burden, private business loans should be provided, and it must be ensured that these are low-interest and long-term.
2. An interest-free postponement for our current unpaid tax, premium, etc. debts must be announced urgently.
Matters announced within the scope of the 3rd emergency action plan, but which are not currently being implemented, must be put into practice as soon as possible. Within the scope of the law enacted regarding the subject, private property owners other than public lands and forest allocations must also be included within the provision regarding the postponement of occupation fees and rents.
The exporter status criterion, which was reduced to 750 thousand US dollars in the 4th Action Plan, is not applicable from the perspective of tourism professionals. VAT and SCT refunds must certainly be provided for tourism professionals as well.
5. Furthermore, within the framework of the action plan, the energy discounts provided for green-star facilities are not being implemented by the relevant institutions. Additionally, the right introduced by Article 16 of Law No. 2634 must be ensured to be used in an expanded manner, and electricity and water fees must be applied at the lowest tariff. On the other hand, municipalities are demanding high fees for water, solid waste, wastewater, and property taxes. It is necessary to urgently find a reasonable solution regarding these elements that are increasing our costs.
6. It is of importance for the sector that Türk Hava Yolları focuses on direct flights from abroad to Antalya, Dalaman, Bodrum, Adnan Menderes, and Gazipaşa-Alanya airports.
7. It is expected that the aircraft support will be expanded to also cover the year 2017. Additionally, it is of great importance that the advertising and promotion activities to be carried out for 2017 are planned and promptly initiated.