The tourism industry has been extremely affected by the coronavirus pandemic  and  the Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy stated that “if we don’t face new problems in the course of events, domestic [tourism] traffic will start at the end of May. The tourism season will open with controlled domestic flights”.

He also stated that “we have set a certification board and we have determined the rules of the hospitality sector. It’s a whole set of detailed rules. We are in contact with the accommodation facility managers”.

Restaurants, hotels, archaeological sites and museums will have to apply social distancing rules, and transport vehicles will have to be sterilized on a regular basis.

Tour operators will be informed of all health facilities which will be documented for them around tourism resorts.

The larger hotels will not be able to sell all-inclusive packages and it is hoped that not only will this contribute to social distancing, but it will give the smaller lodging guest houses and smaller shops a better chance to attract more customers.

The mayor of Marmaris stated that “we expect a tourism revival in our villages such as Sogut, Selimiye and Bozburun (and that) there will be [high] occupancy at apart-hotels and guesthouses”.

Also being considered is reducing the number of sun beds on the beaches by half.

Bodrum Mayor Ahmet Aras predicts that “second home owners will arrive first (and that) we may wait for some time for hotel customers. He also warned that crowds will not be permitted on the beaches, restaurants and nightclubs in the resort.

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