Sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States through Gazprombank and the payment system UnionPay have caused concern in the tourism sector ahead of the 2025 season.
The embargo imposed on the electronic payment system used in Russia, a key market for Alanya tourism, has caused concerns ahead of the next season. Following the embargo on the "Mir" payment system previously used in Russia, the "UnionPay" system belonging to Gazprombank has also been included in the scope of the embargo imposed by the United States. If this issue cannot be resolved, it is estimated that a loss of 30-40% may occur in the Russian market, and the impact of these developments on early bookings is being closely monitored.
Burhan Sili, Chairman of the Alanya Tourism Operators Association (ALTİD), made the following remarks on the matter: "The pressure from the sanctions imposed on Russia appears to be one of the new challenges facing the tourism sector this year. We are closely following these developments. It is certainly disappointing to experience such negative developments before the 2025 tourism season, which we have high expectations for. However, there is no need to panic at this stage. Our Ministry is aware of the situation and will take action. I believe that after the change in the presidency in the United States, this issue will be fully resolved."