The Turkish tourism industry will not survive in a panic and without government assistance: due to the lack of Ukrainian and Russian tourists, things are pessimistic. This statement was made by the chairman of the CHP party in Antalya and the coordinator of the economic department of Chetin Osman Budak. According to him, tourism in Turkey hopes that President Erdogan and Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoi will take measures against the negative consequences that may arise due to the Russian war in Ukraine.
“There are less than 15 days left before the opening of the tourist season. But two of the three countries that send the most tourists to Turkey are currently technically unavailable. The 2022 tourist season is experiencing a huge crisis. But we do not hear any statement from the President or the Minister of Tourism. We need a signal that will reassure tourism professionals,” he said.
First of all, according to him, millions of people working in tourism and related sectors are at risk of unemployment. He assured that financial support should be provided to the sector.
The main problem, the expert said, is that Turkey has not been able to diversify its tourism markets. 27% of tourists who come to Turkey and 55% of tourists who come to Antalya come from Ukraine and Russia. “Due to the embargo on Russia and the fall of the Russian ruble, the number of tourists from Russia will decrease at best, they can not wait from Ukraine for at least two years. Our country, poor in foreign exchange, needs income from the tourism sector, which is the only source of foreign exchange. Unfortunately, the government continues to look askance at the tourism sector, “the Turkish expert complained.
He also said that tourism professionals want to hear the government’s opinion on the measures that need to be taken. “They want to be sure that their losses will be offset by financial measures, efforts to diversify the market. The sector risks losing about $ 6 billion in profits. We are about to lose our tourism markets, which have been achieved with great effort over the last 30 years,” said in Turkey.
It will be recalled that before the events in Ukraine, the Turkish government predicted that revenues from tourism this year may be equal to or exceed the record $ 35 billion earned in the 2019 model year. But now hoteliers are panicking and asking for help.
Not only hotels but also travel agencies will have to be saved.