The Alanya Tourist Operators Association (ALTİD) Board of Directors meeting was held at the ALTİD meeting hall with the participation of regional association presidents located between Okurcalar and Kargıcak. The current state and future of Alanya tourism, along with the issue of Alanya beach kiosks following the Metropolitan Law, formed the important agenda items of the meeting.
THE MINISTRY WAS SETTING AN EXAMPLE
Prior to the Metropolitan Law, ALTİD was purchasing the usage rights of the beachfront kiosks located in the center from Alanya Municipality for a fee and leasing these kiosks to Alanya-based tourism professionals, generating income to be used for Alanya's promotion, social responsibility projects, beach cleaning, and ensuring city security. This cooperation between ALTİD and the municipality was found to be beneficial nationwide and was being showcased as an exemplary practice by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Antalya Governorship.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ALANYASPOR
Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Menderes Türel, who visited Alanya in recent days, had emphasized that the usage rights of the coastal kiosks located within Treasury boundaries, for which they had requested a transfer to the Metropolitan Municipality, should be returned to ALTİD, underlining that this exemplary system must continue. Meeting with the ALTİD management, Türel had stated that they wished to return the usage of the coastal kiosks to ALTİD, and in return, expressed that an annual amount of 1.5 million TL should be provided to Alanyaspor Football Club, which is in need of financial support.
‘IT IS NOT META FOR US’
Stating that the current state of Alanya tourism, its future, and beach kiosks were the primary agenda items discussed at the meeting, Türkiye Otelciler Federasyonu (TÜROFED) Board Member and ALTİD President Burhan Sili said, “Until today, we have always acted with a service-oriented mindset. We will continue to act with the same logic, including the use of kiosks. The issue of kiosks is also an element for service and is by no means a commercial commodity for us. As Mr. Türel also expressed, the management of beach kiosks once again by ALTİD within a system that adds value to Alanya is extremely important for regional tourism.”
‘WE MUST SUPPORT OUR CLUB’
Sili, stating that they have conducted research regarding the number and locations of the buffets, said, “Once these studies are completed, we will meet with our regional presidents for a second time.” Referring also to Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Türel’s call for 1.5 million TL in financial assistance for Alanyaspor Football Club, Sili stated that the Alanya tourism professionals who expressed their views at the meeting wholeheartedly accepted the decision to provide support to Alanyaspor Football Club, as they had done previously, and said, “Although there is no situation that has become clear in terms of a specific figure, the decision 'We must provide support to our club' emerged from our meeting.”
‘THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE CLARIFIED’
Continuing his speech by stating, “Since the issue of aid is linked to the beach kiosks, there are several matters that need to be clarified,” President Sili said, “Speaking according to Mr. Türel's statement, first of all, it must be finalized that the beaches, based on their requests, have come under the auspices of the Metropolitan Municipality. Furthermore, as specified in Mr. Türel's announcement, it is necessary to determine how much payment the Treasury will demand from the Metropolitan Municipality regarding the use of the beach kiosks, and the amount at which they will be provided to us. Once this and similar matters are clarified, we will be able to calculate our accounts and then accurately determine the exact amount of aid to be provided to Alanyaspor Football Club.”
‘MUST BE USED AT THE SERVICE POINT’
Sili, stating that as ALTİD they have always been, as they have been until today, interested in the operation of beach kiosks and that this is a duty on behalf of tourism and tourism professionals, said, “Beaches and beach kiosks are very important parts of Alanya tourism. They are the indispensable elements of tourism. For us, they are never mere commercial commodities and they must be utilized in terms of serving Alanya tourism.”
‘INTEGRATION MUST BE ACHIEVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE’
Sili, also touching upon the integration of Alanya and Antalya Metropolitan Municipalities, concluded his remarks as follows: Just as with the support provided to Alanyaspor Football Club, the request from Alanya Municipality to hoteliers regarding the collection of city waste was also brought to the agenda in recent days. At the same time, as an association working for the public interest, we continue our contributions to social responsibility projects, domestic and international promotion efforts, and the security of the city. For this reason, we believe it is important to evaluate what has been done and what is requested to be done from a broad perspective. We sincerely desire that the integration between Antalya Metropolitan Municipality and Alanya Municipality be achieved quickly so that work can be carried out without interruption, and that our region and tourism do not suffer harm. We are conducting the necessary discussions with the authorities on this matter.