In 2024, the total number of visitors to Antalya reached 17,278,103. Despite these positive expectations, President Kaan Kavaloğlu noted that the industry will face some challenges. ‘Rising costs and foreign exchange fluctuations will continue to put pressure on profitability. The overvaluation of the Turkish lira will create pressure on our competitive advantage and price benefits in target markets. Additionally, the economic contraction and rising unemployment rates in Europe could negatively impact demand. The difficulties faced by companies in Europe due to high wages and decreasing competitiveness will inevitably affect the tourism sector,’ said Kavaloğlu.
WE ARE MAKING PLANS TO STRENGTHEN OUR BUSINESSES
Kaan Kavaloğlu, the president of the Mediterranean Association of Touristic Hoteliers and Operators (AKTOB), also highlighted that new sanctions against Russia and other political tensions in the region could affect tourism flows. Specifically, he mentioned that the number of tourists coming from Russia could decrease by 30-40% due to the embargoes. ‘While the outlook for Turkish tourism in 2025 generally appears promising, there are uncertainties about how economic and political factors will affect the industry. Therefore, we are making strategic plans to strengthen our businesses against these challenges. Our geography has been the homeland to many civilizations throughout world history. Our country, rich in unique values, is one of the regions most affected by international relations due to its geopolitical position,’ said President Kavaloğlu. He also noted that the losses in these high-volume source markets are being offset by gains in markets like Poland, the United Kingdom, and Kazakhstan, which both have significant populations and high-income consumer potential.
