Bodrum Hoteliers Association President refute claims of empty hotels due to high prices

President of the Bodrum Hoteliers Association Omer Faruk Dengiz refuted claims that hotels in Bodrum are empty due to exorbitant prices.

“Occupancy rates vary by region. The season also plays a significant role. Hotels were full in May, and we will reach 90% occupancy after August. There have been periodic vacancies in hotels since the pandemic,” Dengiz stated.

“It’s being portrayed as if this is happening for the first time, which is strange. It seems some want the hoteliers in Bodrum to go bankrupt. Mugla is among the top provinces in Türkiye for tax revenue. If Bodrum goes down, so does Türkiye,” he added.

Addressing comments about Bodrum being expensive, Dengiz remarked: “People who haven’t vacationed here are commenting on social media. Bodrum is not expensive. There are prices for every budget.”

He further noted that some businesses have been operating for 30-50 years. “Can they survive if they don’t set fair prices? In my establishment, a lahmacun costs ₺180. I am in the most affordable area of Bodrum. I can’t charge ₺1,500 for a ₺180 item,” he added.

‘Türkiye much better than Greece’

Commenting on the influx of Turkish citizens to the Greek islands, Dengiz said: “This is not the first time there has been a visa-free application for the Greek islands. The same situation occurred in 2015. Since it is a Schengen area, people who want to get a visa from Greece more easily choose this route. The culinary culture is similar, so our citizens are inclined toward it.”

“In Türkiye, domestic and foreign tourists can get a 20-30% discount with early reservations. This made Türkiye the most preferred country. When Greece lagged, they started offering visas at the door. Türkiye is among the best countries in the world regarding service and quality,” the president added.

Dengiz also denied reports that 238 hotels had declared bankruptcy and announced that they had initiated legal proceedings against those making such claims.