Global tourism industry to be redesigned after COVID-19 pandemic: Turkish experts

The global tourism industry, facing massive job and revenue losses over the COVID-19 pandemic, would be redesigned in line with the changing psychology of people, Turkish tourism representatives said on Monday.

Firuz Baglikaya, head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, said that the challenging process which the entire world has been experiencing since December last year has had an impact on the psychology of people.

"Health and hygiene sensitivity would become the top priority of people from now on," Baglikaya told Xinhua. "Therefore, demands on solo holidays, boutique hotels, and personalized packages would gain momentum, as people would shun crowded places."

In Baglikaya's view, the impact of social media and consumer comments, which have made a significant leap in recent years, will go up to 70-80 percent from 40-50 percent.

He also noted that the proportion of those using computers and mobile technology would increase in the travel industry.

For Ali Can Aksu, head of the Turkish Hotel Managers Association, the virus has forced the industry's representatives to replace the existing system with a new order.

"First of all, the process revealed that we should adopt a new system, which would be based on hygiene," Aksu said.

Aksu noted that the industry would rely on a more local and simplistic approach rather than offering an all-inclusive system and open buffet.

"Flamboyant open buffet breakfast and dinner would be no longer on the table," the expert added.

Turkish tourism representatives have been working on a new action plan that would determine the concepts of a new system, trying to eliminate the adverse effects of the virus.

Some of the tourism representatives are optimistic that the tourism season could start in mid-June in Turkey with a recovery faster than several other countries in the region.

Currently, 90 to 95 percent of tourism facilities across the country are closed as a precautionary measure to curb the outbreak of the coronavirus, said officials.

"Domestic tourism movements will most likely start again in 30 to 45 days. In terms of our international markets, we estimate that the season will begin after 45 to 60 days," Baglikaya said.

The country has registered 56,956 COVID-19 cases and 1,198 deaths as of Sunday.

Last year, Turkey observed 34.5 billion U.S. dollars of tourism revenues, with a 17 percent year-on-year increase.

According to the statement of the World Tourism Organization, the global tourism industry has been experiencing a loss of up to 500 billion dollars in tourism revenues in just three months of period, according to Aksu.

"This loss can be recovered in about six years of hard work," Aksu said, adding that the so-called recovery could only be possible if everything would start to go back to normal in May.

"If the normalization across the world would extend to July, there would be more serious and almost irreversible losses," the expert noted.