Turkish coasts get ready for summer of tourism under clouds
Tourist facilities and local administrations in the southern province of Antalya, which hosts nearly a third of all tourists visiting Turkey, are preparing for the summer season under a cloud as Turkey's tourism industry continues to struggle.
Maintenance and repair work is ongoing in many facilities ahead of the new season, while representatives of local administrations are focusing on promotional works to counter the negative effects roiling the industry in Turkey.
Officials say they expect to see more tourists from Iran and Israel this year, hopefully compensating for a decline in European tourists.
"This year is not as promising as previous years but life goes on and facilities are preparing for the new season," said Turkish Hoteliers Federation (TÜROFED) President Osman Ay?k.
"Preparations have been made with minimum costs. Worker recruitment will begin in the coming months. Nearly 600,000 people were employed in previous years but I don't know what it will be this year," Ay?k added.
Alanya Touristic Enterprises Association (ALTID) President Burhan Sili said they were focusing on the promotion of Alanya in fairs abroad.
With the support of the Alanya District Municipality and the Alanya Chamber of Trade, Sili said stands had been opened in fairs in the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Ukraine and Iran.
"Out of 27 fairs abroad, Alanya took part in 20 fairs. Turkey is an irreplaceable market. One way or another, tourists will continue coming to Turkey," he added, while saying that foreign tour operators had warned about declining interest.
"But they also say the bed and prices balance in Turkey has no equal in the market. But there is a reality that we have a serious loss in the Russian...
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