Tourism Week message from TÜROB Chair Müberra Eresin...

Noting that tourism has come to a standstill on a global scale, TÜROB Chair Müberra Eresin said: "Today, by staying home, we will regain our health, and tomorrow we will continue to travel. We will carry on with tourism in a much stronger way. Like the rest of the world, we too hold on to our belief that these difficult days will come to an end."

Müberra Eresin, Chair of the Association of Turkish Hoteliers (TÜROB), said that in 2020 the tourism sector has come to an extraordinary standstill on a global scale, perhaps for the first time in its history. Eresin added: "However, I can comfortably state that this is a temporary period, and of course, healthy and brighter days will come. To travel, to wonder, and to discover is humankind's never-ending passion. We will once again sustain tourism as a whole in the best possible way, in a much stronger fashion."

In a message published on the occasion of Tourism Week, TÜROB Chair Eresin provided information on the current state of tourism and also shared the sector's expectations. Eresin said: "This year's motto of the World Tourism Organization is 'traveltomorrow' - that is, today, by staying home, we will regain our health, and tomorrow we will continue to travel. Like the rest of the world, we too hold on to our belief that these difficult days will come to an end, and we hope that tourism activity will resume as soon as possible and that we will emerge from this bottleneck."

A temporary pause
Eresin expressed the following views: "Today, the concept of tourism goes far beyond travel; it is a socio-cultural force, an important diplomatic tool in foreign relations, and - particularly in tourism-brand countries such as Türkiye - a sector that has become a fundamental pillar of the economy. Due to the Covid-19 virus, which has profoundly affected the entire world and threatens human life, the tourism and travel sector has temporarily halted, people's priorities and perspectives have changed, and our sector has, for now, become a source of motivation that is postponed, dreamed of, and longed for. As the Association of Turkish Hoteliers, we will continue to act with the highest level of awareness and responsibility at all times, and to work to add value to our country in the best possible way." Eresin also extended her congratulations to the entire tourism community and to dedicated tourism employees on Tourism Week.

Tourism Week is celebrated every year between April 15-22 with various events, with the aim of developing tourism awareness in our country, revitalizing domestic tourism, and encouraging the public to take part in tourism activities. This year, however, the events cannot be held due to the coronavirus pandemic.