Kempinski Hotel Bodrum General Manager Ferman Doğan said in the Bloomberg HT broadcast he attended; "The costs have increased 3-4 times, unexpected hikes have come and the taxes have been increased, the tourist says that I will stay in Sharm El Sheikh for 250 euros instead of paying an average of 500 euros to Turkey and goes there"
Ferman Doğan, General Manager of Kempinski Hotel Bodrum, stated that the tourism figures for 2022 are very good and that everyone's expectations for this year are higher. "The occurrence of the earthquake in the conjuncture we are in caused us to experience a loss of 40 days, which we call the early reservation period. Later, the 2nd round of the Presidential election caused a 3-week loss in the domestic market. In addition to these, house sales to foreigners and the misuse of these sales have affected the occupancy rate."
Doğan, who participated in the Bloomberg HT broadcast and made evaluations about the tourism sector, stated that their 2023 expectations were not what they wanted.
Unexpected hikes have arrived
Stating that the minimum wage was around 3,500 TL last year, this figure has now increased 3-4 times, "If your staff wages increase this much, it affects the whole industry, it also affects the producer who gives you vegetables and water. In addition to these, unexpected hikes were also made, accommodation taxes were increased, there was a tremendous increase in food prices, transportation increased. Of course, we have to look at these when making budgets and we have to reflect them in our prices in a logical way. Otherwise, the tourist says that instead of paying an average of 500 euros to Turkey, he says he will stay in Sharm El Sheikh for 250 euros and goes there.
"Now, when you look at Spain, Greece, Egypt (Sharm El Sheikh), Dubai, Maldives, even Paris and London, we, as Bodrum, have become a more expensive center than many destinations. In other words, we are talking about an excessive price increase, an excessive demand, but an infrastructure system that will not respond to that demand. You can stay in a very nice hotel in Paris for 800 euros in Bodrum, where the 5-star segment is on average 800 euros, and you can stay in London or Dubai. In other words, the guest ask; I will stay in Dorchester in London instead of paying 800 euros and staying in a hotel in Bodrum. He asks me what do you give me in return for this money." Doğan stated that as a tourism professional, he thinks that Turkey is lacking in this regard.