Fearing losses of up to $7 billion because of the coronavirus, Turkey’s tourism sector is demanding a rescue package from the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Sector representatives submitted an urgent action plan to the government for receiving support.
This came after the government postponed the holiday season to the end of April and the fall-off in global travel in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Turkish Health Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan and Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Ersoy announced the decision of postponement of the holiday season in a joint press conference following first coronavirus cases in Turkey on March 11.
Minister Ersoy said that fewer tourists could be admitted for a period of at least one month, and reservations and events could be postponed until after April.
The tourism industry which had been expecting 40 billion income and more than 50 million tourists, demand support from the government.
Turkey received 3.266 million tourists and earned $1.9 billion dollars during April last year.
Tourism sector representatives say that their minimum loss will be last year’s income in April, but with the continuing spread of the virus, the amount might exceed $7 billion.
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Senay Gurlek who runs a hotel in Antalya, one of Turkey’s most popular tourist destinations explained his demand to the Dunya daily saying that the Turkish government should provide financial support for employment assistance for three months as it did last year as part of a government program in a bid to attract more tourists.
Gurlek said the tourism industry expected the ministry to pay salaries and insurances for six months, reduce electricity prices and remove the accommodation tax.
Representatives of the tourism sector also called on the Turkish government to maintain good relations with Russia as Turkey received seven million Russian tourists last year.
Turkey Travel Agencies Union’s (TÜRSAB) board member Hamid Kuk expressed his frustration that Minister Ersoy’s statement of postponing holiday season will have a negative impact on travel agents.
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The post Coronavirus: Turkey’s tourism sector demands rescue package appeared first on IPA NEWS.
from IPA NEWS https://ipa.news/2020/03/14/coronavirus-turkeys-tourism-sector-demands-rescue-package/
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