Tourism professionals: Homes rented for tourism purposes create problems for the sector

Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TÜRSAB) President Firuz Bağlıkaya said: “Houses rented for tourism purposes cause serious problems for our industry.” Baglikaya stated that houses rented for tourism purposes must meet tourists through travel agencies.

Baglikaya made statements about the latest developments in the tourism sector.

‘TRNC SHOULD BE EXCLUDED’

Evaluating the limitation of fees in foreign countries, Bağlıkaya said, “The practice of removing fees on foreign tourism spending with credit cards is a challenge for our travel agencies. At the very least, the exemption of the TRNC from this regulation is of great importance for tourism professionals both in Turkey and in the TRNC.

Baglikaya expressed the industry’s expectation that package tours to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus would be exempted from the BRSA’s recent decision to cap credit card fees for international travel.

‘EXCHANGE OUTPUT IS NOT THE PROBLEM’

Noting that TRNC is a country that uses the Turkish lira, Bağlıkaya made the following assessments:

“TRNC is a very important destination for Turkish tourism. It is a country where we are united politically, socially and economically. A citizen of the Republic of Türkiye who goes to the TRNC spends Turkish lira. Therefore, there is no outflow of currency.

With the regulation presented by the Agency for Banking Supervision and Regulation, the elimination of quotas on international tourism expenses by credit card can be understood within the scope of economic measures, but the exemption of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from this Regulation is of great importance for tourism. professionals both in Türkiye and in the TRNC.

‘HOUSES FOR RENT CREATE SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES’

Recalling that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is working on the legislation on rental housing for tourism purposes, Bağlıkaya said, “Houses rented for tourism purposes cause serious problems for our sector.”

Baglikaya made the following assessments:

The number of tourists arriving in Turkey is increasing, but hotel occupancy remains low. These leases must be controlled and registered. In this context, houses rented for tourism purposes must be documented and received by tourists through travel agencies. In this way, gaps in taxation, control and security are eliminated”. he said. (AA)