The Board Members of the Alanya Tourist Operators Association (ALTİD) met with hoteliers from İncekum, Avsallar, and Türkler. In the meeting, which was held under the chairmanship of ALTİD President and Turkish Hotel Association (TÜROFED) Board Member Burhan Sili, and attended by İncekum Tourist Hoteliers Association President Oytun Kan, Türkler Tourist Hoteliers Association President Mehmet Aydıncı, and regional hoteliers, regional problems and tourism-related issues were discussed. Speaking at the meeting held at Sirius Deluxe Hotel, Sili stated, “This country benefits from tourism to the fullest, but the sector has many unseen difficulties,” noting that there was a 30 percent contraction in the number of tourists arriving from the Russian market to Antalya in May, and a 10 percent contraction in the average of all markets.
“COST INCREASE IS 14 PERCENT”
Stating that the risk has increased due to an average cost increase of around 14 percent compared to last year, Sili said, “Due to both the increase in costs and the decrease in prices, our hoteliers must take precautions in the upcoming period without compromising on quality. It appears that the loss experienced in the Russian market will continue to decrease until the end of the season.”
“WE MUST ALSO INVEST IN NEW MARKETS”
Stating that only this year 4,500 beds will have come into service in Alanya, Sili said, “Tourism, which is the main sector and the indispensable element of our region, holds great importance for our country in terms of both foreign exchange inflow and job creation; however, the problems of this sector are knee-deep. At the very least, we must be able to open up to new markets while maintaining the number of tourists coming from existing markets so that we can prevent loss of revenue and the progressive shrinking of the season. We must open up to country markets such as India and China.”
“G20 SUMMIT AND EXPO ARE SET FOR NEXT YEAR”
“IT WILL PROVIDE RELIEF TO A CERTAIN EXTENT”
Stating that Expo, also known as the "World Expo," which has been organized since the mid-19th century and adds value in terms of economic, cultural, and environmental contributions to the regions where it is held, will increase the occupancy rates of facilities in the Antalya region, Sili said, “Expo will be held in 2016 on a 112-hectare area within the boundaries of Aksu Municipality between April 23 and October 30. The fact that hotels in the regions where Expo 2016 events will take place will be filled will create a ripple effect, shifting the potential as far as Alanya. This impact on occupancy rates will also cause accommodation prices to increase.” Mentioning that the statesmen of 19 countries with the world's largest economic power, such as US President Barack Obama, and members of the European Union Commission will meet in Antalya at the G20 Summit in November, Sili expressed that these events would create a doping effect for Antalya tourism.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES WERE ALSO DISCUSSED
At the meeting, topics such as the control of the environment and water treatment, promotion, music professional associations and the copyright law, relations with the Metropolitan Municipality and Alanya Municipality, beach kiosks, the importance of acting together under the umbrella of non-governmental organizations so that tourism professionals can defend the truth and seek their rights more effectively, the added value created by the sector on behalf of the region and the country, and the importance of acting in solidarity with the municipalities were also discussed.