Sharp criticism from German tourism expert in reply to statements by tourism sector in ÇEŞME

Melanie Törün, a German tourism professional responded sharply to the statements by the tourism sector in Çeşme, Turkey, regarding their dissatisfaction with the current season. Some prominent tourism operators in Çeşme such as the President of Çeşme Touristic Hoteliers Association (ÇEŞTOB), the Marmaris Regional President of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), had previously noted a significant decline in tourism compared to the previous year.

Melanie Törün, the manager of Turkey Reisen, a company operating in Germany, provided strong responses to the statements made by these two Turkish tourism professionals. Törün criticized the perceived arrogance of Çeşme’s tourism operators and suggested that it was time for them to change this attitude. She stated, “It’s time to change this arrogant stance.”

Törün’s comments can be summarized as follows:

Lack of Promotion: Törün criticized Çeşme’s tourism industry for not making efforts in terms of promotion. She pointed out that there was no international advertising campaign to promote Çeşme, and they relied primarily on domestic tourists and expatriates.

Underutilization of Health Tourism Potential: She noted that Çeşme had potential in health tourism due to its thermal springs but criticized the lack of effort in promoting and utilizing this aspect of the region.

Lack of Foreign Language Skills: Törün pointed out that some stand representatives at tourism fairs had poor foreign language skills, hindering effective promotion. She emphasized the need for more inviting and attractive presentations at international events.

High Prices: She criticized the high prices in Çeşme’s hotels and mentioned that even in the Greek islands like Mykonos, she didn’t encounter situations like having to pay extra for coffee at a bed-and-breakfast hotel.

Ignorance and Arrogance: Törün expressed surprise at the level of ignorance and arrogance she encountered in Çeşme, stating that she hadn’t seen this level of attitude elsewhere. She mentioned that in 2023, many of her guests visited Çeşme, found it beautiful, but were disappointed with the hotels’ service and performance.

Lack of Event Planning: Törün highlighted the issue of event planning in Çeşme, mentioning that there were numerous festivals but with uncertain schedules and guarantees. She emphasized the need for a stable marketing policy and better planning in the region.