Antalya tourism shifts focus to economic value and stricter guide regulations

Tourism stakeholders in Antalya are shifting focus toward maximizing economic value and enforcing stricter professional standards. Ercan Yavaş, President of ANTİGİAD, stated that the city's new objective should be increasing added value rather than simply increasing visitor numbers. He emphasized that tourism revenue must extend beyond the accommodation sector to benefit the broader city economy through gastronomy, health, sports, culture, and shopping.

Simultaneously, the Antalya Guides Association (ARO) has intensified inspections to combat unlicensed guiding. Following 185 planned inspections and the review of 1,337 vehicles, authorities have issued reports against those operating without proper credentials. Administrative fines for unlicensed guides now range from 39,000 TL to 150,000 TL. ARO officials noted that these measures aim to prevent the spread of misinformation and protect the region's tourism image.