Alanya Tourism Operators Association (ALTİD) President Cem Özcan made evaluations regarding recent developments in the tourism sector. Özcan emphasized that it is of great importance for travel agencies and hoteliers to act in solidarity, especially in the face of global geopolitical developments and sectoral regulations.
“THE TWO MAIN ACTORS OF THE SECTOR MUST ACT TOGETHER”
Stating that travel agencies and hoteliers, the two fundamental actors of the tourism sector, always need one another, Özcan expressed that sector stakeholders must exhibit a transparent and common approach regarding issues such as wars and the new fire regulation. Noting that some travel agencies are attempting to turn global developments into opportunities, Özcan criticized the pressure exerted particularly toward lowering prices and the attempts to reclaim payments made to hotels. He noted that such initiatives place hotel businesses in a difficult position.
“TURKEY CONTINUES TO BE A SAFE HARBOR”
Stating that Turkey continues to be a safe destination in terms of tourism despite all geopolitical risks in the region, Özcan made the following assessment: “The fact that Turkey is seen as a safe haven for tourists, despite all the developments occurring around Turkey, is a very important indicator. During this process, travel agencies and hoteliers, which are the locomotives of the sector, need to support one another.” Expressing that developments in the Middle East could affect tourism mobility, Özcan stated that there is a possibility of certain tourist flows turning towards Turkey during this process.
“OPPORTUNISM DAMAGES THE RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST”
Stating that some travel agencies are attempting to use recent negative developments against hoteliers, ALTİD President Özcan warned that this approach could damage the relationship of trust within the sector. Özcan stated that some agencies are suspending payments by putting forward excuses that complicate operational processes and are creating pressure on hotel businesses to lower prices. Emphasizing that such practices could pose an obstacle to investment and employment in the tourism sector, Özcan said, “The continued use of recent negative developments as a pressure element against hoteliers may lead hotel businesses to re-evaluate their business partners in the future. Just as this approach will provide no benefit to the sector, there will be no winner in such a scenario.”
“THANKS TO ETHICALALLY OPERATING AGENCIES”
Reminding that the tourism sector overcame much more difficult periods in the past through mutual trust and goodwill, Özcan stated that the same solidarity must continue today. Thanking the agencies that stood by hoteliers by adhering to ethical values during this process, he said, “Agencies that do their jobs properly are our most important partners with whom we will continue to grow together today and tomorrow.” Making an emphasis on global peace in his statement, Özcan noted that tourism gains meaning with a world where people can travel freely and used the following expressions: “In this century, where technology is developing rapidly and the world has essentially turned into a global village, our greatest wish is for people to be able to travel freely in a world where peace prevails, without encountering any obstacles.”