Türkiye in the crisis: tourism collapses, slavery in the hotel?

Türkiye in the crisis: tourism collapses, slavery in the hotel?

Antalya, Türkei - Turkey faces a difficult phase in tourism, which is characterized by rising prices and falling visitor numbers. As the Kleine Zeitung reports the Turkish government to achieve new records in tourism for 2023. But reality looks different: In May 2023, the number of German vacationers fell by almost 20% compared to the previous year. The general increase in inflation, which is now in official 35%, also deter potential travelers, which leads to a decline in foreign tourists.

This is what it currently looks like in popular destinations such as Antalya, Bodrum and Istanbul: there the hotels have a significant decline in bookings. According to Travel and Tour Overnight prices and living expenses rose sharply, which loses Turkey its price advantage compared to other Mediterranean goals such as Spain and Greece. A family that is planning their vacation in Turkey must now expect costs of over 150,000 Turkish lira (approx. $ 3,750), which is considerably more difficult in comparison to similar trips to Greece, which costs between 1,980 and $ 2,490.

a law against the rights of employees

The working conditions for tourism employees have also deteriorated under the pressure of the crisis. The Turkish government has abolished the legal right to a day off for tourism employees, which is sharply criticized by unions and labor lawyers. This change, known as "10+1", allows employees to work ten days at a time before they receive a day off. This is referred to as "legalization of slavery", as the ZDF , the industry is faced with a real crisis due to the record inflation. And not only the price increases, but also dissatisfaction with the quality of the services. Many hotel guests often return to their facilities to escape the high prices in the area. These developments could mean that Turkey could not only lose popularity in the coming years, but could also decrease sharply as a travel destination if there are no rapid reforms here.

In order to counter the downward trend, experts demand investments in the infrastructure, customer service and the diversification of the entertainment offer. This is the only way to again become an attractive travel destination for tourists who are looking for relaxation and joy on vacation.