The Schengen visa crisis, which has been steadily growing in Türkiye in recent years, has now evolved beyond the issue of obtaining visa approval and turned into a controversial problem of accessing visa appointments. Representatives of the tourism sector state that appointment difficulties for applications to European countries are causing serious economic losses for both citizens and the industry itself.
Making striking statements on the issue, GM Global Tourism and Visa Xpress Chairwoman Gülruh Gülten said that the main problem today is no longer obtaining a visa, but being able to secure a visa appointment.
Gülten noted that there is a major accessibility problem within the system, especially during peak application periods, and stated that genuine applicants wait in front of the system for months. Meanwhile, she said that serious allegations have long been circulating within the sector that certain individuals and groups are able to secure appointments within a very short time.
“Citizens monitor the systems for days, even weeks. However, while many people cannot find suitable dates, there is a strong public perception that some intermediary structures or bot systems are collecting all available appointments within minutes,” Gülten said, emphasizing that the current situation has created a serious trust issue among the public.
The Tourism Sector Is Suffering Chain-Reaction Losses
Representatives of the tourism sector stress that the visa appointment crisis is not only causing individual grievances, but is also directly affecting the tourism economy. It is stated that many citizens planning trips abroad, especially before the summer season, complete their reservations but are forced to cancel their plans due to the inability to obtain appointments.
According to experts, these disruptions are causing economic losses across many areas of tourism, including travel agencies, hotels, airlines, and event organizers. The cancellation of previously planned tours is putting both consumers and service providers in a difficult position.
Gülten said, “People organize their travel plans, arrange their hotels, and complete their organizations. However, because appointments cannot be secured, the entire process is canceled. As a result, not only citizens, but also agencies, hotels, and the entire tourism chain suffer losses.”
“Debates Over Transparency Have Turned Into a Crisis of Trust”
The heavy demand for Schengen applications to European countries has also intensified criticism regarding how appointment systems operate. Sector representatives argue that systems that should normally provide equal access for everyone are not functioning transparently enough.
The fact that appointments at some application centers disappear within seconds has reignited public discussions about “automated bot systems” and “organized intermediary networks.” Although official authorities occasionally announce technical improvements regarding the issue, sector representatives believe the current measures remain insufficient.
“Why do genuine applicants wait for months while some people can secure appointments on the same day? This issue now needs to be clearly investigated,” Gülten said, calling for stricter oversight.
Expectations for a Solution Are Growing
Representatives of the tourism sector argue that all parties involved — particularly consulates and intermediary institutions — must establish a more transparent and auditable system to resolve the issue. In particular, they emphasize the need for stronger technological measures such as identity verification, bot prevention systems, and fair queue management.
Experts warn that if the visa appointment crisis continues, it could negatively affect not only individuals’ freedom to travel, but also Türkiye’s international tourism connections and sector revenues. For this reason, sector representatives are calling for rapid implementation of new regulations that will protect citizens’ rights.
