The Shocking Truth About Alanya: Are They Really Saving the District?

Burhan Sili, President of the Alanya Touristic Operators Association (ALTİD), stated that short-term accommodation facilities, also known as Airbnb, support diversity in tourism and contribute to the local economy as long as they operate under official registration.

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in day-use and short-term accommodation facilities, following the rise in individual travel plans. This development has led to the spread of alternative accommodation models outside of apartments and hotels in tourist areas like Alanya. Burhan Sili emphasized that these registered and supervised facilities positively contribute to regional tourism.

“They offer economical and flexible options”

Sili said, “Accommodation units used for day trips or short stays, also called Airbnb, have started to replace the previously existing apartment facilities in our region. These facilities support tourism diversity by offering short-term, economical, and flexible lodging options to both domestic and foreign tourists.”

“They indirectly benefit local tradespeople”

Sili noted that these accommodations are especially preferred by visitors who want to experience the city, dine in local markets, spend time in entertainment venues, and are interested in nature and cultural tourism. He added, “This situation indirectly benefits local tradespeople, restaurants, beach businesses, and tour companies.”

“Travelers from Europe prefer individual travel”

He emphasized that tourists coming from Europe increasingly plan individual trips and that they tend to choose short-term accommodation facilities accordingly. However, he stressed that these facilities must operate according to tourism regulations, be registered, and supervised.

“Unregistered operations reduce quality”

Sili highlighted that unregistered businesses harm the local economy and negatively affect service quality. He stated, “We believe this area should be brought to a healthier structure through the cooperation of all stakeholders.”

“The issue is not demand, but the decrease in the length of stay”

He said their main problem is not the demand for day-use houses, but the reduction in the length of stay of hotel guests, rising costs, and exchange rate fluctuations leading to shrinking profit margins for businesses.

“Goal: sustainable quality and diversity”

Addressing sustainable tourism goals, Sili said, “Our priority should be to increase profitability by introducing different products such as sports, culture, nature, and health tourism. In our region, which hosts more tourists every year, diversifying accommodation alternatives and offering this diversity within the framework of quality is critical for our sustainable tourism goals.”