Cry from Mardin reflects the mood of the business world

It was in the southeastern province of Mardin about 15 years ago when I first met Ebru Baybara Demir. After her tourism education in Istanbul, she went back to her hometown, which was exploring tourism at that time. I remember very well that in those days there were no decent hotels or restaurants in Mardin. 

With the tourism agency she set up at that time, Demir was searching for ways to better host tourists in Mardin. I remember the picnic Demir organized at an Assyrian village in the region with a women?s organization to draw attention to ?honor? killings; I had tasted some food I had never tasted before. 

If Mardin is hosting 700,000 tourists annually today, if more hotels and restaurants are opening in town, the ?creative seeds? planted by Demir had a huge share in this. 

The historic Cercis Murat Kona??, a mansion she converted into a restaurant, served by Mardin housewives, is now an international destination. 

I visited Mardin in May on the occasion of the third Mardin Biennial. The future of the city is totally dependent on tourism.  

However, unfortunately, with the latest developments that started with the Suruç massacre and continued with operations to Syria, the cancellation of tours was coming one after the other.

Her message the other day, ?Two major tours have cancelled, the rest are coming,? was like a cry. Mardin had huge hopes for tourism in 2015 but now its business world is desperate.   

Even before the military operation, Turkish Exporters Assembly (T?M) head Mehmet Büyükek?i said they were against an early election. ?As exporters, we want a coalition to be formed and for life to go back to normal,? he said. According to Büyükek?i, the business world wants confidence and stability...