The earthquake in Turkey caused great damage to people and leveled many areas. But even as Turkey is dealing with the disaster and trying its best to support the people, many people working in the tourism industry are aware of a potential problem: Will the disaster scare tourists?
Tourism plays an extremely important role in the Turkish economy and the livelihoods of many people depend on tourism. After COVID-19, Turkey needs tourists more than ever.
In the coming weeks, Turkey will enter the early peak tourist season. CNN quoted Kaan Kavaloğlu - Chairman of the Mediterranean Hotel owners Association - as saying that the signs are good.
Flights operate normally to most major destinations, resorts and businesses are open, Mr. Kavaloğlu believes that the country will continue to have a better year. Turkey is preparing for another record summer at all major destinations, he told CNN Travel.
Istanbul
Istanbul is a miniature image of Turkish culture and a gateway to the country for many people.
This is one of the world's leading tourist destinations, where international tourists spent more than 13 billion USD in 2022, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
Like most major tourist destinations in Turkey, Istanbul felt the aftershocks of the February 6 earthquake but suffered no damage. Istanbul - home to 15 million people - is more than 800km from the center of the earthquake.
At Çukurcuma Hamamı, a luxury resort that has welcomed tourists and locals since 1831, the manager of Büke Yurdadoğ is among many people working in the tourism industry worried that the earthquake would scare tourists.
We are entering the peak tourism season in Istanbul and business has declined compared to last year, Yurdadoğ said.
The earthquake has of course affected all of us, both individuals and businesses. We are trying to help the affected provinces as much as possible, while trying to welcome visitors to us in the best way possible. Natural disasters are an inevitable reality of our world and Istanbul is a city that has existed for centuries, the cradle of dozens of cultures and cultures amid this reality.
Yurdadoğ said tourists will still be attracted by the diversity of what Istanbul offers.
Its a city that can look chaotic from afar, but when visitors come here and start exploring, they discover new mysteries in every corner. I think every neighborhood has something to attract the attention of tourists".
Yurdadoğ introduces antique shops in Çukurcuma, Sveti Stefan Church in Balat, alleys around Galata Tower, Bosphorus Strait, Sakıp Sabancı Museum overlooking Bosphorus Strait, Yeşilast as well as Moda and Kuzguncuk neighborhoods.
Antalya
Antalya, on the southern Mediterranean coast of Turkey, is a destination not only for those who love to relax but also for those who love history, and the nearby Taurus Mountains attract long-distance walkers.
At Olympos Mountain Lodge, a prominent hotel in Beycik village, owner and chef Mehmet Ali Börtücene said the earthquake had a significant impact on Antalya, located more than 600km from the center of the earthquake.
The number of guests booking rooms has decreased, but Mr. Börtücene said that tourists will help survivors of the earthquake.
After the disaster, Antalya welcomed many victims of the earthquake who lost their homes and were unemployed. Tourists coming to this area will indirectly contribute to the recovery process.
Tourism is one of Turkeys most important sources of income, so every tourist who comes here has really contributed to easing this pain, said Börtücene.
Bodrum
Bodrum - Turkey's "blue pearl coast" - is a great summer destination with luxurious resorts and nightclubs, calmer coastal villages with modest seafood restaurants, where you can spend your evening watching the moon reflect on the calm waters.
Inside Bodrum's market, the owners of the Mustafa, Mustafa Açıkel and his son, Murat, sell hand-embroidered carpets, fireplaces and pillowcases.
Açıkel said the earthquake has caused frequent calls with concerns but hoped the tourism industry will not be affected.
The earthquake affected us all emotionally, he said. Here, at Bodrum, people send as much aid as possible to the affected areas and hotels have opened to welcome the victims."
Economically, tourism is one of Turkeys biggest sources of income, and we need tourists to visit every year. We have a lot of workers who make a living from tourism, from all over Turkey, Açıkel added.
Açıkel said that visitors to Bodrum this year can find luxury, entertainment, as well as a quiet and peaceful place to rest. Highlights include a visit to Bodrum castle, a theater and a tomb in Halicarnassus.
