Ercan Torunoğulları: 'Hotels Were Over 90% Full During the Holiday'
Evaluating holiday tourism in Fethiye, Ercan Torunoğulları stated on CNN TÜRK live broadcast that the 9-day holiday made a great contribution to regional tourism and the season started strong.
The intense crowds along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, especially in Muğla's Fethiye district, pleased the tourism sector. Participating in a CNN TÜRK live broadcast, Ercan Torunoğulları, Member of the Board of Directors and Executive Board of the Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA), stated that after the 9-day holiday, the region reached high occupancy rates and said the season started strongly.
Expressing that the holiday made an important contribution to the tourism sector, Ercan Torunoğulları noted that especially the extension of the holiday period to 9 days increased reservations.
Torunoğulları said, “After our government announced the holiday as 9 days, we received significant reservations. People flocked to the Aegean and Mediterranean. Hotels in our region reached occupancy rates above 90%. As tourism professionals, we are quite satisfied with the holiday period.”
“There Was Significant Crowding in Fethiye”
Torunoğulları noted that during the Eid al-Adha holiday, there was heavy tourist activity in Fethiye with crowds felt on the beaches and tourist destinations.
He said there was a short-term slowdown after the holiday but that it was temporary. “There was a slight drop after the holiday. However, we expect activity to pick up again in the coming weeks with the start of school holidays both in Turkey and Europe. We will see high occupancy rates in hotels until the end of August,” he said.
“Turkey is a Safe Tourism Harbor”
Torunoğulları emphasized that Turkey continues to be a safe tourism destination despite geopolitical developments in the region and said international organizations reinforced this perception.
“The High Season Begins”
Torunoğulları stated that the tourism sector will enter the high season in the coming weeks and that school holidays beginning in European countries and Turkey will increase activity.
He noted that Turkish citizens living in Europe will also come to Turkey during the summer period. “We expect serious activity both in the European market and the domestic market. With our expatriates also coming to the country, the tourism season will strengthen even more. Until the end of August, our hotels will operate at 90 to 100 percent occupancy,” he said.
“Turkey Still Has an Advantage in Price Competition”
Torunoğulları pointed out that Turkey maintains a price advantage over competing countries in tourism, particularly standing out in the all-inclusive system. He stated, “Compared to competing destinations like Greece, Spain, and Italy, Turkey is still in an advantageous position in terms of price and service quality. Especially with the level of service we offer in the all-inclusive concept, our competitiveness continues,” he evaluated.
