Earthquake and electoral uncertainty interrupted tourism: hotels are dying

Sabahattin Duman, President of the Bodrum Association of Professional Hotel Managers (BOYD), made assessments of the tourist season and the chronic problems experienced by tourism professionals.

Duman said: “The Kahramanmaraş earthquake that occurred during the early booking period and the uncertainty in the election atmosphere caused sales in May and June to bottom out.”

“When the decision of the 9-day Eid al-Adha holiday came too late, hotels are trying to recoup losses in May and June with only 3-4 days of occupancy,” Duman said, adding: “Before the 9- holiday decision, between June 28 and July 1, it was almost 70-80 percent full.This time, it seems that hotels that want to sell longer holidays will have to make do with occupancy of 3 days,” he said.

QUALIFIED PERSONNEL LEAVES: NEW CRITERION ‘LET’S PUT A SMOOTH FACE’

Stating that the problem of staff supply and staff accommodation put a lot of pressure on hoteliers, Duman said: “Hotels, which have lost their skilled staff in other sectors due to years of ongoing instability and crises, have fallen to the criterion of ‘it is enough to speak well’.

“In the development period of the tourism industry, those who worked in the hotel construction were employed after the hotel opened, even if they did not have special qualifications. At least they used to observe the hotel during the construction period,” Duman said, continuing:

‘People who see a hotel for the first time in their life are hired’

“Today, whoever sees a hotel for the first time in their life has to be hired. Especially receptionist, dish washing staff and room cleaner are the most difficult jobs to find.

Many hotels are now turning to foreign staff. It tries to ensure personnel stability by bringing in hard-to-supply personnel from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan through personnel supply companies. Bali is the most popular place for spa staff”

CALL FOR ‘EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN SHOULD BE CREATED’

Duman said: “The problem of staff housing is growing exponentially. Most of the 2-3 star hotels in Güvercinlik, Torba and Gumbet have been converted to staff accommodation, while apartments have been converted to manager accommodation. An action plan must be created urgently.”

Duman said: “The accommodation needs of employees must be solved outside of the Bodrum peninsula, which is the apple of the eye of world tourism, where prices and rents are so high,” continuing his words as follows :

“A new city should be created 20-25 kilometers from the center. Otherwise, illegal and abnormal structures such as barracks, caravans, prefabricated houses, tiny houses, bungalows, without registration, will be filled everywhere.”