Hoteliers want to benefit from currency conversion support

The economic downturn and uncontrollable inflation have also hit hoteliers.

Eray Erdem, President of the Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stated that hoteliers also want to benefit from the 3 percent conversion support given to exporters who bring in foreign currency from abroad, and requested that tourism incentives be given not to new investments but to improving the quality of existing businesses.

Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO) President Eray Erdem addressed Alanya's problems at the TOBB Economic Council held last week at the TOBB, attended by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan, Agriculture and Forestry Minister İbrahim Yumaklı, and Trade Minister Ömer Bolat.

In his meetings and speeches at the Economic Council, Mayor Erdem stated that hoteliers should also benefit from the 3% foreign currency conversion support provided to companies bringing in foreign currency. According to the Economy Newspaper, Erdem called for the necessary regulations to be implemented to remove obstacles to this issue and listed Alanya's problems as follows:

Hoteliers, along with agencies, play a significant role in generating direct foreign currency revenue from abroad. The residence problem, which has long been a topic of discussion in Alanya, must be resolved. Especially in tourist areas like Alanya, where diverse cultures coexist, residence restrictions should be implemented on a provincial, not neighborhood, basis.

Erdem, who also described the challenges faced with the new Fire Regulations, said, “We have conveyed our proposed solutions to the authorities, such as conducting ongoing inspections gradually and at reasonable intervals, providing technical and financial support to businesses, and taking fire safety procurement times and regional conditions into account.”

ALTSO President Eray Erdem, who also conveyed the region's demands regarding the VAT problem in the service sector, noted the following:

We reminded everyone that the service sector, despite low-VAT purchases, is under a 12% tax burden, including 10% VAT for accommodation and a 2% accommodation tax. We renewed our demand for a balance in rates, taking into account the VAT input-output difference. The tourism sector is also experiencing the negative effects of rising supply versus demand. In regions with limited tourism seasons, like Alanya, there has been a significant bed shortage in recent years. Tourism incentives should be issued not for new businesses, but for the renovation of existing facilities to improve quality. Currently, the sector needs the renovation of existing facilities more than the supply of new beds.