Çağıner: Tourism Sector Worse Than During Pandemic

Speaking via social media, Çağıner said, “Tourism is going badly. Unfortunately, we are in a much worse situation than during the pandemic. During the pandemic, expenses were reduced, the sector was in sleep mode, and most importantly, interest rates were between 9% and 13%, with no inflation. We could manage to get by on nearly 3000 Turkish Lira. Now, not only is there no work, but we are also operating below full capacity, and input costs have risen uncontrollably.”

He added that while marketing and transportation have always been challenges, solutions were found to sustain the industry. “Marketing is better than before, and ADA KIBRIS is very successful, but it has no real impact on the ground. The main reason is that we have lost the ability to produce sellable and competitive services.”

Çağıner stressed that all efforts must now focus on reducing costs, warning that failure to do so could lead to the permanent loss of the tourism sector in the short and medium term.

He criticized political rhetoric from both the government and opposition as ineffective, saying, “Empty populist talks no longer satisfy. None of their statements are realistic or actionable.”

Calling for a new path guided by science, he concluded, “The solution lies within our country’s patriotic economists, bureaucrats, and tourism professionals. This way, at least we will know what to expect, because the current waiting is pointless. The solution is within us, and if we act wisely, we will find it.”