Der Juni ist da, aber der Tourismus im östlichen Schwarzmeer-Gebiet hat noch nicht an Fahrt gewonnen

In Trabzon, one of the most important destinations in the Eastern Black Sea Region, it was stated that despite the month of June, the expected activity in tourism sector has not been achieved yet. President of Trabzon Hoteliers Association, Mustafa Aksu, emphasized that even though June has arrived, the tourism sector has been very weak, mentioning that the 9-day Eid al-Adha holiday is not very relevant for the Eastern Black Sea Region. Aksu pointed out the significant damage caused by unregistered hotels to the sector, stating that there are many reasons for the current situation. Due to an excess of suppliers compared to demand, there is a problem. If there are too many accommodations available in one place, it hinders tourists and people from experiencing the tourism they truly deserve. There are high expectations and desires for Trabzon, where there are major issues. Firstly, we are selling rooms to people, and people are getting bored. We have a location problem, entertainment venues problem. Secondly, we always say that when we talk about tourism in Trabzon, it’s not just about hotel rooms or hotels, but also about locations, but there is a major problem with the high number of unregistered hotels. Currently, there are 282 official hotels in Trabzon, while with the 600 unregistered hotels, the total number of unregistered hotels reaches close to 2,800. The damage caused by unregistered hotels is twofold, as they compress tourism into a month and reduce satisfaction rates.
Aksu reminded that in a survey, 17 out of 100 people said ‘I will come back’, he continued by saying, ‘Recently, the Tourism Provincial Directorate conducted a survey, and only 17 out of 100 people said ‘I will come back to Trabzon,’ while 83 insisted on not coming back. In our research, we found out that 83 of them stayed in uncontrolled and unsupervised places that are not really dedicated to tourism. For example, when the season starts, we double our staff. The goal is to make our guests happy and send them off happily. Normally, we have 25-30 employees in the winter season, but we employ 50 people in the summer season. The satisfaction of tourists for them to come back is crucial for the sustainability of tourism. As the Hoteliers Association, we are trying to establish sustainable tourism within the framework of the state laws to the best of our ability.
Aksu emphasized the necessity of inspecting unregistered hotels, stating that this situation harms the city. He said, ‘Every kind of shopkeeper suffers because tourism is condensed. If a guest can find accommodation here on July 15, there is a problem. If not, they will come in June. If it’s expensive, they will come in May, automatically making it a four-month season. Our tourists don’t just stay in hotels; they also explore the city. We are in favor of this city not losing its essence; this city always welcomes tourists. Unfortunately, due to excessive congestion, we have started to make our nature and people unhappy.’
Evaluating the nine-day Eid al-Adha holiday, Aksu stated that the holiday is not valid for the Eastern Black Sea Region. He said, ‘When we look at the nine-day holiday, it is beneficial for the tourism sector, but it is not very relevant for some regions. For example, the Eastern Black Sea Region mostly operates internationally, so it is not very suitable for domestic customers. Our biggest problem is actually the schools opening on September 9, which means an early opening, and the season should be shorter. Of course, a nine-day holiday is good for my sector alone; it’s a very good thing for other commercial sectors. At least people going on vacation will stimulate the economy a bit. Will it have an impact on us? Of course, it will have a 10-20% impact. It will bring some activity before the season.’
Aksu pointed out that there has been an increase in the number of tourists in the last 5 years, but a decrease in the tax bracket. He said, ‘There has been an increase in recent years. The number of tourists coming to Trabzon has increased in the last 5 years, but there is a decrease in the tax bracket, which is very interesting. We have informed the relevant authorities about this. If more customers are coming, then the government’s tax revenue should increase, but there is a decrease. There is also another situation, if this is our capacity, let them come. If the traffic is very bad in the summer and everything is congested for a month and a half, if we run out of water and electricity, and if the city itself is not enough. Facilities built in nature will cause problems in the future. Trabzon is a unique city. You can swim in the sea and light a fire in the highlands 15 minutes later. Trabzon is an incredible city with its nature, history, and religious tourism. We say let’s create the sustainability of this city together.’