Global Ports Holding Eastern Mediterranean Region Director Gungor stated that cruise tourism was negatively affected during the Covid-19 process and that this year, they expect approximately 200 thousand tourists to come to the Aegean Port in Kusadasi by cruise ships.
In his speech at a coordination meeting held for the problems of district tourism at a hotel in the district, Gungor said that cruise tourism was negatively affected by the epidemic all over the world.
Stating that the cruise is an important destination for Turkey, Gungor continued as follows:
“Before Covid-19, 2021 would have been the best season ever in Kusadasi’s history. In March 2020, 790 thousand passengers were expected according to ship reservations for 2021. It would be over 1 million with crews. It is a very distant picture subject right now. For the year 2021, 350 thousand passenger capacity appears with 304 ships. However, passenger capacity may mislead us because we expect a decrease this year in the occupancy rates on the ships. Therefore, the passenger capacity can be expected to be around 200 thousand.”
Emphasizing that they are waiting for the first ship on May 1, Gungor stated that they anticipate that the capacity of the ship belonging to a Greek company is 2 thousand people and that it can come with an occupancy of approximately 40%.
Giving information for the upcoming season, Gungor said, “For the 2022 season, there are 400 thousand passenger reservations with 300 cruise voyages. This will definitely increase. 2022 is a table that includes new reservations. We expect cruise tourism to regain its old power in 2023 and 2024.”
Aydin Governor Huseyin Aksoy stated that it is very important for tourists to come to the city and leave the city satisfied and that they are working on this issue.
At the meeting, Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Umut Tuncer also made evaluations.
Source: AA / Translated by Irem Yildiz