Türkiye strokes free day for hotel staff: vacationers benefit!

Türkiye strokes free day for hotel staff: vacationers benefit!

Türkei - The situation for employees in the Turkish tourism industry recently intensified dramatically. The Turkish government has deleted its employees the only day off a week. The background of this measure is clear: In order to keep prices for vacationers low, the employees should now work more without remuneration. This development not only questions the quality of life of the workers, but also throws a light on the challenges that the tourism sector in Turkey is currently going through. Because the number of visitors has dropped slightly this year, and you are desperately trying to win tourists through lower prices, while the workforce suffers from increased stress. Rheinpfalz reports that this measure of great resentment triggered.

Despite the tense situation, Turkey is tirelessly involved in refining its tourism offer and making it more attractive. The most popular travel destinations continue to consist of the pulsating metropolises Istanbul and Antalya, which ranked high in the global tourism charts in 2024, with Istanbul in 19th place and Antalya in 63th place. These cities offer a unique mix of culture, history and natural beauties. In addition, there are the wonderful coastal regions, especially the Aegean and the Turkish Riviera, which offer sparkling water and fantastic views. According to laenderdaten.info has a coastline of over 7000 kilometers that leaves nothing to be desired.

challenges and trends in the tourism sector

The tourism industry in Turkey has experienced some setbacks in recent years. 2019 was a record year with 51.8 million international tourists. But the Covid 19 pandemic has caused drastic burglaries. The decline in tourist numbers was dramatic, especially in the first half of 2020, with a decline of 75% and the imposition of travel bans, which significantly reduced the income in the aviation sector. In 2021, however, Turkey experienced a V-shaped upswing, which indicates an improved security situation and growing international desire to travel. The “Healthy Tourism Certificate” program was introduced to ensure safe travel options and build trust, reports Tripplo .

Tourism accounts for a significant part of the economy, with an employment rate of 7.7% in 2018 and around 2.2 million employees. These numbers illustrate the high dependence of Türkiye on this sector. In view of the current challenges, increasing living costs and the need to keep tourists, the decision to withdraw their rest periods could harm more than benefit in the long term.

The main source countries for tourists are Russia and Germany, with many Germans looking forward to the cheap accommodations in Antalya. However, the development of the understanding of the law and the associated travel warnings from Western countries could further restrict the tourist attraction of Türkiye in the future.

It remains to be seen whether the Turkish government's measures will be sufficient to keep the tourism industry on course. One thing is certain: the industry is faced with great challenges, while trying to preserve and develop her treasures - be it the breathtaking nature, the rich history or the warm hospitality.