Turkey tourism sector faces structural crisis, warns deputy

Seda Kaya Ösen, an İzmir deputy for the YENİ Party, has warned that the Turkish tourism sector is facing a structural crisis characterized by a cycle of high costs, low demand, and declining profitability. She noted that tourism operators are increasingly relying on personal capital and high-interest loans to stay afloat.

Ösen argued that unless structural issues are addressed, Turkey will remain a country where costs are high for operators and prices are expensive for consumers. She also highlighted that regional tensions, specifically the crisis between Iran and the United States, have negatively impacted the sector.

To revitalize the industry, Ösen proposed a new tourism strategy that moves beyond concentrated coastal regions. She suggested spreading tourism activities across all 81 provinces by leveraging Anatolia’s cultural, culinary, and natural heritage to ensure year-round engagement.