GÜMTOB President Artıç: "Bursa is having a difficult summer in tourism."

ESRA ÖZARFAT BURSA - Buğra Artıç, President of the Southern Marmara Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (GÜMTOB), stated that hoteliers in Bursa were dissatisfied with the mid-summer tourism slump. Artıç stated that occupancy rates across the city were well below normal. "There is an approximately 30 percent contraction in tourism in Bursa," Artıç said, emphasizing that hotel occupancy rates are currently around 50 percent, whereas this rate should generally hover around 80 percent during the summer. Highlighting the low number of foreign tourists, high costs, and extremely hot weather, Artıç said, "We haven't had a bright summer this year in terms of tourism , neither in Bursa nor throughout Turkey. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts are a partial exception." Artıç also noted that tourists from Middle Eastern countries, who have stayed in Bursa for extended periods in previous years, have shown no interest in the city this summer, adding that this situation has had a significant negative impact on the city's tourism.

The contraction in industry also affects accommodations

Artıç noted that 20 to 25 percent of hotel occupancy rates in Bursa are related to industry, noting that the recent slowdown in the industrial sector has directly impacted the accommodation sector. "The contraction in industry is putting significant pressure on the sector," he said. "We hope this is a temporary phase." Artıç also noted that the reduced summer activity also impacts hotels' long-term investments, explaining that low occupancy rates are causing hotels to struggle to budget for maintenance, repair, and renovations. "This situation might be tolerable for a year, but if it continues like this for a few years, hotel renovations will become unsustainable," he said. Artıç added that numerous efforts are being undertaken with local governments to revitalize tourism, and that these efforts will yield long-term results.