Antalya, which reached the highest number of visitors of all time last year with more than 16 million people, is expecting a new record this year. The winter period, which is described as the “off-season,” was busier this year compared to last year, with an increase in reservations for the summer season. The President of the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association, Kaan Kavaloğlu, stated that the industry started this year with high hopes.
Kavaloğlu pointed out that the tourism figures are promising, with over 1.75 million tourists visiting Antalya this year, representing a 20% increase compared to last year. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that tourists who visit Turkey and Antalya return to their countries happy and satisfied, attributing the growing number of tourists each year as proof of this goal.
Highlighting the significant potential Turkey and Antalya hold in the global tourism industry, Kavaloğlu noted that industry stakeholders are continuing their efforts with this awareness. He also mentioned the important steps taken to diversify tourism in Antalya, focusing on sports, golf, meetings, seminars, and congress tourism. Kavaloğlu explained that they are working to enhance these areas further and ensure more hotels remain open during the winter season to develop and diversify tourism.
Kavaloğlu stressed that the development and diversification of tourism during the winter months require serious efforts, despite the progress made in this regard. This year, a record number of hotels remained open for an extended period in Antalya, from Alanya to Kaş, indicating that they are on the right track. He emphasized that the more hotels remain open during the winter season, the more positively employment is affected.
The optimism for this year’s tourism season was shared by Kavaloğlu, who expressed the industry’s expectation to break another record. They aim to exceed 17 million visitors, and he emphasized that all stakeholders are working together to fulfill their responsibilities in achieving this goal. Additionally, Hakan Saatçioğlu, the President of the Professional Hotel Managers Association, mentioned the positive impact of hosting football teams during the winter season in Antalya.
Saatçioğlu highlighted that Antalya has over 200 official football fields and they hosted around 1400 football teams from both domestic and international locations during the training camp period. He mentioned that this year has been a successful season compared to 2023, with a significant number of football teams hosted from countries such as Germany, Russia, Georgia, Denmark, and Poland showcasing the positive contribution of sports tourism to the region.
