Pointing out that hotel investments throughout Turkey have increased compared to recent years, one of the well-known businessmen of Sakarya, Hotel Investment and Management Consultant and also the Founding President of Roof Hotels, Mehmet Yüce, evaluated the events in tourism during the pandemic period and the situations to be experienced in tourism in 2022.
"The pandemic period has brought us back"
Expressing that Turkey's tourism was going very well before the pandemic, Yüce said, "We had a very good momentum. There were Hotel Investments and many tourism projects planned. Most importantly, Turkey's tourism reached the highest figures in its history in terms of turnover and number of tourists in 2019," he said.
“As Türkiye, we are one of the Leading Actors of World Tourism”
Pointing out that many hotels were closed in the first half of this year and opened in June-July, Yüce said, “Turkey has attractions in tourism and many more. As Türkiye, we are one of the leading actors of world tourism. In addition, we have the best hotels and tourism facilities in the world as a facility. One of the reasons why we are one of the most preferred tourism countries is the Turkish hospitality spirit of our employees serving the sector and the experienced Turkish managers in tourism.
In the 2nd half of 2021, there was a serious tourism intensity. During this period, when pandemic conditions and bans continued, tourists from many countries could not come to our country due to the closure rules. Despite this, domestic tourism has revived a lot and people of our country have flocked to our tourism regions and hotels with the lifting of the bans after the closure. It has become very difficult to find a place in hotels, even on holidays and public holidays that coincide with the summer period.
As long as the pandemic conditions are not fully lifted in 2022, similar scenarios will occur in the foreign market. One of our biggest expectations will be domestic tourism. If we do not experience a very different situation regarding the course of the epidemic, I think that 2022 will catch up with the pre-epidemic period and that we will receive serious demands from the foreign market due to the advantage in exchange rates, and we will go towards a record in terms of number of tourists and turnover.
"We are in the 2nd place in the world in terms of 3S"
Mehmet YÜCE has the biggest share in mass tourism, which is expressed as “3S” in world tourism (“Sun”-sun, “Sand”-sand, “Sea”-sea). The share of 3S tourism in world tourism is 14.9 percent. Before the pandemic, 226 million people around the world used their holiday preference as 3S in 2019. This number was 158 thousand people in 2015. Therefore, despite the recent development of new tourism types and areas in individual countries and throughout the world, those who prefer to spend their holidays in 3S are increasing in number and rate.
In the distribution of tourists from countries including Turkey in the Mediterranean region according to their destination, Spain ranks first in the 3 S. Türkiye follows Spain in second place.
Vacationers are increasingly seeking experiences that enrich them. Vacation plans include content, adventure and sports activities.
Therefore, it is necessary to offer alternative forms of tourism and create new, targeted tourism products, combining 3S with other tourism products, focusing on specific themes, focusing on local culture, culture, sports and natural beauty. This will also ensure the extension of the tourism season.”
“I am hopeful for the new year”
Hotel Investment and Management Consultant, as well as TUROYD (Turkish Hotel Managers Association) Sakarya and Bilecik Provincial President Mehmet Yüce, pointed out that hotel investments will increase again by 2022, and said that the market will be economically revived and foreign investors will be interested in tourism investments in our country. However, he said that he believed that the trust in the sector would be regained and that the lost qualified workforce would return again.
Almighty finally said, “My wish; We will leave these difficult times that we have to live with the pandemic process as soon as possible. I wish everyone a year full of health, peace and tranquility," he said.
