Recent temperatures exceeding seasonal norms have started to impact the tourism sector. Extreme heat is causing tourists to stay indoors and spend less, which in turn increases energy costs.
According to a report by Fikri Cinokur from TurizmDays, Associate Professor Mehmet Bahar, Head of the Sustainable Tourism Management Program at Cappadocia University, stated that Turkish tourism is not prepared for climate change. Hakan Saatçioğlu, President of the Professional Hotel Managers Association (POYD), noted that temperatures are increasingly hotter each year.
Saatçioğlu emphasized that climate change is now being felt and will significantly impact hotels in every aspect. "Climate change is seriously affecting the most important months of July and August for tourism. Guests, who pay high fees due to the peak season, are suffering from the heat. Their holidays can be uncomfortable both during the day and at night. Guests hesitate to leave the hotel to see the beauty of our city due to the heat. They start spending time either in the lobby or their rooms and begin questioning their holiday."
"Unnecessary practices in the all-inclusive concept"
Saatçioğlu pointed out that if temperatures continue like this in the coming years, the high season for tourism will be severely affected. "Sustainability is very important in this regard. Although the programs initiated by the Tourism Development Agency (TGA) are beneficial, they are not progressing fast enough and are not being adequately monitored. Sustainability is not just specific to a city or region; climate change will become an issue affecting our entire country and the world. Therefore, measures regarding sustainability need to be quickly implemented. Yes, it will increase our costs in the short term, but in the long run, it will benefit our country both in terms of marketing and awareness, putting us ahead of other countries. In Türkiye, unnecessary offerings and practices are implemented to justify high prices in the 'all-inclusive' concept," he said.
"Shopkeepers are also complaining"
Highlighting that tourism businesses will need to forgo many offerings and reduce unnecessary costs due to sustainability, Saatçioğlu said, "In addition to all-inclusive sales, extras like wine, pavilions, and a la carte services are sold and provide additional income. However, this July and August have seen a significant decline due to the heat. Shopkeepers outside the hotels are already complaining. Hotel guests almost do not go out during the day due to the heat. They try to go out in the evening, but the humidity makes it undesirable then as well."
"Energy costs are increasing"
Saatçioğlu mentioned that some hotels might have energy shortages. "The generators of 3-4 star hotels may not support the air conditioning system. Five-star hotels have generators that support the entire system. As long as there are no prolonged power outages, there is no problem. However, generators also run on diesel, which incurs significant costs. Short-term power outages can seriously damage all the electrical cards inside the hotel. Obtaining these cards can sometimes take a long time. The most worrying issues for hoteliers are card or compressor failures or motor burnouts. Air conditioning units, transformers, cold rooms, and kitchen equipment are the devices that worry tourism operators the most," he said.
"Tourism is not ready for climate change"
Associate Professor Mehmet Bahar, Head of the Sustainable Tourism Management Program at Cappadocia University, stated that temperatures far above seasonal norms affect the tourism sector and tourists in various ways.
Bahar pointed out that these effects include energy shortages, changes in tourism seasons, decreased comfort levels for tourists, and even a decline in the attractiveness of some tourist areas. "Due to climate change, tourists from northern countries traveling to warmer southern climates may tend not to travel because of the warming in their own countries. Extreme heat automatically increases the energy needed by facilities, while also contributing to carbon emissions that exacerbate climate change," he said.
Bahar emphasized the need to develop practices to address this change. "For instance, applications that increase or save energy efficiency should be implemented. Businesses should calculate their carbon footprint and take measures to reduce and neutralize it. They should invest in alternative energy sources that are environmentally friendly and generate the energy they need from these sources. It is still possible to stop climate change, and if we can do something, we can reverse this bad trend," he explained.
"This cannot be done with tourism alone"
Highlighting that around 62,000 people, mostly children and the elderly, died due to rising temperatures in 2022, Associate Professor Mehmet Bahar shared his views as follows:
"We must take all necessary precautions both personally in our homes and institutionally in our businesses without waiting for some actions from the government. The significance of a running faucet or an unnecessarily lit lamp is much more than we think. Türkiye is already obliged to do certain things due to its signatures on international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol.
But this cannot be done with tourism alone. All sectors must address this issue with the same sensitivity. EU member states are implementing the decisions they have taken in this area one by one. For example, although the ban on single-use plastics has started to be implemented throughout Europe, there is no such application in Türkiye yet. The tourism sector is not yet sufficiently prepared for climate change. However, compulsory certification programs and the pressure from tour operators are forcing businesses to do something in this regard. From this perspective, I see the tourism sector as the most ready and easily adaptable sector among others."