Eresin's Assessment of the Certificate; We Expect It to Provide a Competitive Advantage

TÜROB Chair Müberra Eresin said that the Healthy Tourism Certification Program is one of the most ambitious among the hygiene certification programs in the world and that it will provide the sector with a competitive advantage at both the national and international levels. Eresin stated that a portion of the certificate fee to be paid by hotels could be covered by TÜROB, valid only for its own members.

As the conditions for obtaining the certificate and the organizations authorized to issue certificates were announced within the framework of the 'Healthy Tourism Certification Program' launched under the coordination of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, preparations for the post-Covid-19 period in the accommodation sector are also continuing at full speed. Making a statement on the subject, Türkiye Otelciler Birliği (TÜROB) Chair Müberra Eresin said that the 'Healthy Tourism Certification Program,' on which TÜROB also provided its views together with other non-governmental organizations, is one of the most ambitious among the hygiene certification programs in the world and that it will provide the tourism sector with a competitive advantage at both the national and international levels. Eresin said, "We hope this program, prepared as a result of the transparent assessments of the representatives of the relevant ministries and stakeholders under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will be beneficial to our sector, and we thank our Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, for including us in the process."

Not Mandatory, but Those Obtaining the Certificate Will Have an Advantage

Noting that the certification program has entered a new phase with the determination of the companies that will issue the certificate, Eresin stated that the implementation is not mandatory for facilities, but that they expect establishments that take measures regarding hygiene and Covid-19 to be preferred first during a period in which consumer sensitivity on these matters has increased. Eresin stated that, with the awareness of its duty to ensure the development of tourism in all its functions for the benefit of the country and to support members in this direction, a portion of the certificate fee to be paid by hotels could be covered by TÜROB, valid only for its own members, and that work on this matter has begun. Eresin pointed out that the certificate fee ranges from 400 TL to 2,600 TL per month depending on bed capacity. Pointing out that the names of the organizations authorized to issue certificates have been announced on the website of the Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency, Eresin emphasized that facilities can contact these organizations. Eresin underlined that other organizations with the necessary competence may also carry out the required inspections and audits to issue certificates if they obtain approval from the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK).

They Can Stay with Peace of Mind

Saying, "We believe that the Healthy Tourism Certification program will definitely make a great contribution to our sector going forward, considering above all the establishment of consumer confidence, employee safety and positive perception," Eresin continued, "With the Healthy Tourism Certification Program, a series of new measures are being defined for all Turkish citizens and foreign visitors who will spend their holidays in Turkey, across a broad spectrum ranging from transportation to accommodation and from facility employees to the passengers' own health conditions. Since accommodation establishments that do not obtain the certificate will continue their operations in accordance with the principles of the Circular on the 'Controlled Normalization Process in Accommodation Facilities' recently published by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, our guests will be able to stay at our hotels with peace of mind."

Monthly Recommended Fees for Accommodation Facility Certification

City hotel Certification fee (TL)

0-40 beds 400

41-199 beds 1,200

200-599 1,400

600 beds and above 2,200

Resort hotel Certification fee (TL)

0-40 beds 400

41-999 1,500

1,000 beds and above 2,600

Monthly Recommended Fees for Food and Beverage Facility Certification

Facility size Certification fee (TL)

0-399 m2 400

400-799 m2 750

800 m2 and above 1,250