Hotels in Bodrum began laying off staff
While an occupancy rate of up to 100 percent was achieved on the 9-day Eid al-Adha in the Bodrum district of Muğla, it was claimed that luxury hotels started laying off staff when not expected in the upcoming process. .
Tourism professionals, who had high hopes for the summer season, were also shocked by the successive price increases. It was claimed that 5-star and luxury hotels remained at 50 percent occupancy and began laying off staff when domestic tourism activity was not expected.
THE OCCUPANCY RATE DECREASED BY UP TO 55 PERCENT
Professional hotel operator Hüseyin Softa stated that there was a shortage of customers in domestic and international tourism, saying: “Starting from the season, the time period we were in was supposed to be the busiest. In other words, our occupancy rates should have been 95 percent. But the image is backwards. The data does not speak well of us. Our hotel occupancy rates have been reduced to 50 percent. “These numbers make us sad,” he said.
Stating that there was an environment of insecurity with the effect of both the earthquake and the election, Softa said that there were no overseas sales due to the earthquake, and then the election caused a loss of confidence.
Softa said: “In addition to this, Turkey has become one of the least preferred countries for foreign tourists. In previous years, such things were not discussed. The war between Russia and Ukraine has also badly affected tourism,” he said.
“TOURISM IS NOT BAD BUT NOT VERY GOOD”
Galip Gür, secretary general of the Association of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World, said that the earthquake occurred during the period when the reserves began to be experienced, and then the uncertainty created by the elections and then the sudden increase in prices affected negatively to tourism.
Stating that they have heard that layoffs have started, but not to a large extent, Gür said: “We are not at the occupancy rate that we expected. Tourism is not bad, but we are in the fashion of not being very good. When the expected occupancy rate did not materialize due to excessive cost increases, a 25% discount on hotels was initiated.
Stating that everything is expensive, not just hotels, Gür said that transportation is also a big problem for tourists after the latest price hikes. Gür said: “Planes burn in Europe, so European tourists prefer places they can go by train or by road. We, as tourism professionals, are trying to take a position in tourism according to the economic situation of the country.
5 STAR AND LUXURY HOTELS FREE STAFF
Bodrum Professional Hoteliers Association President Sabahattin Duman said: “Many 2- and 3-star hotels have become boutique hotels, the number of 5-star and luxury hotels has increased and their prices have increased. We heard that luxury hotels began laying off staff when a post-holiday raise was not expected. However, the situation is normal in 2-3 star hotels, ”he said.
Duman said that tourism professionals are trying to bear the excessive increase in costs and taxes, especially fuel, and that is why many luxury hotels have had to bet on discounts and that if they continue like this, tourism professionals will not they will be able to with this. burden.