SALİH ÇENE: WE MAY FALL BELOW OUR EXPECTATIONS THIS SEASON
We talked to Salih Çene, one of the experienced names in the tourism sector, about his expectations for the 2025 season. Stating that Turkey is now referred to as a "expensive destination", Çene stated that this season may fall short of expectations.
Salih Bey, how did the season start, how is it progressing now? Would you share your general expectations?
We started to receive the first signals of the season at the World Travel Market fair held in London last November. At that time, pre-bookings were also quite good. This positive atmosphere continued for a while. However, as can be seen from the latest data, the progress is currently below expectations.
Another important issue is that Turkey is now in the "expensive destination" category. Although this issue is not talked about much within the sector, it is being seriously discussed. For this reason, I predict that the season will generally fall short of our expectations. However, if the right strategies are implemented, it may still be possible for hotels to achieve successful results in terms of profitability.
The Ukraine-Russia war is still on the agenda. What do you think about the possibility of the war ending in the near future and its possible effects on tourism?
I think the possibility of the war ending is high. Especially when we look at Trump's approach, it is seen that there is not a very strong reason for the war to continue. Neither side will want to lose more people. There is also a political pressure for a solution. In this context, I think this problem can be solved within the summer months.
We saw some positive effects even when the war started. Ukrainian and Russian citizens came to Turkey, and many of them started living here. Although they did not directly contribute much to the hotels, they revitalized the market. When the war ends, tourist mobility from the region may increase again. Therefore, the end of the war will definitely have positive consequences for regional tourism.
How does the economic tension between China and America affect Turkish tourism?
I don't think this tension will have a direct impact on Turkish tourism. Because the number of tourists coming from China is still quite low. Moreover, the Chinese government restricts its citizens' travel abroad. Turkey is still not a priority destination for Chinese tourists.
A similar situation applies to the American market. The number of American tourists is limited. However, if the economic tension on the China-America line affects the European markets, it may indirectly affect Turkish tourism.
