ALTSO President Erdem's Lifeline Call to Tourism Professionals

Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO) President Eray Erdem shared with the public the bottleneck the industry is in and his solution suggestions with the start of the 2026 tourism season. Erdem called for an urgent action plan for the tourism sector, which has been under serious financial pressure due to increasing costs and global fluctuations in recent years, and demanded radical regulations in financing, taxes and legislation. The demands of the sector were conveyed in detail to Antalya Tax Office Head İlhan Karayılan, who visited the chamber.

The implementation of these regulations for the economy of Alanya, where food and beverage and accommodation facilities are especially concentrated, is seen as a vital threshold to save local tradesmen from bankruptcy and protect employment. It is predicted that if the bleeding in tourism, which is the main pillar of the district's economy, is not stopped, all commercial balances, from the local market to the supply chain, will be negatively affected.

Tourists Should Be Given Exporter Status

Reminding that the sector has a structure that directly earns foreign currency, President Erdem stated that tourism professionals actually export services and that they should be granted exporter status. It was stated that by taking this step, businesses will be able to benefit from various tax advantages with Eximbank loans. Referring to Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek's announcements about the reduction in corporate tax for exporters, Erdem requested that tourism professionals also benefit from the same rights.

Increasing Tax Burden and Fees Challenge Tradesmen

Noting that the inability of tourism businesses to offset the 20 percent VAT they pay on alcoholic beverage purchases creates a double burden, President Erdem stated that calculating the 1 percent VAT on food purchases as 10 percent on sales causes great harm to businesses. It was emphasized that the Tourism Contribution Fee of 5 per thousand and the Accommodation Tax of 2 percent, which are collected on turnover rather than earnings, are destroying the sector, which is trying to survive with a low profit margin. In addition, Erdem said that while the 2026 Revaluation Rate is 25.49 percent, the exorbitant increases in the exorbitant fees are hurting the industry, and that debt restructuring with state-supported, affordable interest loan opportunities and tax amnesty has become a necessity.

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