Turkish tourist city of Bodrum afraid of losing another season this summer

World

Published: 2021-06-27 14:15

Last Updated: 2024-03-24 02:22


Source: Business Insider
Source: Business Insider

Although Russians and Europeans are soon expected in big numbers in the Turkish tourist city of Bodrum, which has seen little tourists in comparison to recent years due to the coronavirus crisis, its mayor does not believe that their money will prevent the loss of another season this summer.

"The previous tourist season ended with a 75 percent drop," the city's mayor, Ahmed Aras, told AFP.

"We expect a recovery from July with flights from Russia and Europe," he added, speaking in a luxurious library overlooking the Aegean.

But a revival of the sector, he said, “won't happen for a few more years."

The measures to reduce the pandemic dealt a blow to the Turkish economy, depriving it of foreign revenues to finance debt and support the lira. The absence of tourists played a major role in the decline of the Turkish lira from six against the dollar in March to about 8.7 today.

The government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan needed a quick solution to respond to popular discontent.

It has sought to lure tourists to Turkish beaches with exemptions from the weekend curfew and other rules linked to curbing the virus.

But quarantine restrictions imposed on travelers returning from Turkey have scuttled the government's plans.

In 2019, Bodrum Airport received 4.34 million tourists, a record number, in a city called the "Turkish Riviera.”

But those numbers fell by two-thirds last year, and the airport recorded the arrival of no more than 350,000 people between January and May.

However, the situation is finally improving, and Turkish officials have expressed optimism.

"We will launch the wheel of tourism and encourage tourists," Erdogan said earlier this month.

- Dead season -

Russia this week canceled a travel ban on Turkey officially imposed to contain the coronavirus, but it coincided with rising geopolitical tensions.
More travelers are expected as the European Union eases travel rules on July 1.

But the picturesque city that stretches from the sea to the hills, is not the same place where famous people and the wealthy of Istanbul used to go.

"All the boats are anchored on the beach, maybe one of them will take a trip one day," said tour operator Barch Casal.

"We said last season was 'dead'. We consider the current season to be the same," he added.

He explained that "some movement was recorded, but it is very weak."

Russians represent the largest segment of the tourists because Turkey is one of the main tourist destinations that they can access without a visa.

The director of operations at Bodrum Airport, Eglal Kayaoglu, said that the airport receives a tenth of passengers compared to 2019.

"It is mainly the Russians and the British who come," she told AFP.

- Bad year -

The Russians found a way to sneak into Turkey even when the Kremlin banned travel.

And the number of flights coming from Poland increased after travelers chose indirect flights.

But shopkeepers say the money they make from these tourists hardly covers the debts and government loans they took out last summer to keep up.

"Last year was bad, but we thought it would not be repeated," said Engin Erkan, a leather shop owner.

"But now we are in our second year. We are not strong enough to be able to stay steadfast," he added.

Chamber of Commerce Chairman Mahmoud Sardad Kogadon said he does not expect tourism to return to levels before the pandemic, at least for two years.

Revenues from domestic business activities deteriorated 80 percent from their 2019 levels.

"We have reached a point where businesses are on the verge of bankruptcy," Kogadon said.

- Europe is closed -

In 2019, Turkey received 45 million tourists.

The tourism minister lowered the forecast to 30 million after imposing a total closure in late April to save the tourist season, but few believe that goal can be reached.

The tourists here, many of them from Ukraine and Eastern Europe, are happy to take advantage of the sun.

"We didn't travel last year, but this year we decided to go to a sea resort," said Ukrainian Mikhail Groniy, who is on a tourist trip with his wife and daughter.

"For Ukraine, Europe is now closed. Turkey is perfect because of the Covid situation," he added.

But the mayor of Bodrum is apprehensive.

"You cannot open (activities) in July and expect a recovery," Arras said. "Things don't work that way," he added.