The instability in hotel prices, the long-standing issue of second homes, and debates about unfair competition bring many intertwined problems back to the agenda. Within this context, there are also the realities of the living standards of tourism workers and who the tourism investors are. However, the discussion is taking place on the wrong grounds.
For instance, Airbnb is a widely accepted system worldwide. We cannot progress in tourism by banning these models. Just like when we did not take a step forward when booking.com was banned, we won't make progress if we ban Airbnb today. Unfortunately, it is also the tourism industry that suggests these bans.
Today, around 3.5 million people use Airbnb every night on average. The company's market value is around 75-80 billion dollars. It is one of the most widespread online travel platforms. The CEO of the company, Brian Chesky, has set his sights on the aviation sector. The company plans to launch its own airline. The story that began with an inflatable mattress in San Francisco is now moving towards the process of going public.
So, as you can understand, Airbnb is a strong player in the global travel industry. In our country, many people use this system both as service providers and service recipients.
Therefore, with the progress in technology, new ideas and applications will continue to enter our lives. Instead of engaging in tourism with outdated formulas, we must adapt these new models to the sector. If we are late in transformation, we may have to endure the pains caused by innovations.
We cannot sustain tourism with an understanding that only revolves around hotels; we must also write the conditions and rules of the game well. We must carry out the transformation in the accommodation sector without being confined to narrow-minded patterns.
We need to create solutions that bring together tourists and the local community, which comply with the requirements of the age. While producing these solutions, we cannot ignore the needs of those who live and work there. Moreover, a country of tourism must also recognize the right of its citizens to have holidays at affordable budgets. Trying to price the product at its worth, today, neither foreign tourists nor locals can be attracted by the hotels.
On the other hand, there is the reality of a lodging sector that creates employment and pays taxes in the growth of tourism. Their demands should not be disregarded. It is known that there are issues concerning tax liabilities, employment investments, security, and hygiene for properties rented daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonally.
The fact that unfair competition conditions exist is undeniable. Free-market conditions show that citizens who acquire property also become small-scale tourism investors and compete with hoteliers. However, these problems are not unique to us; the whole world is struggling with them, and sharing economies can harm traditional business models as they expand their networks.
In conclusion: We can solve the problems by discussing them and guiding the decision-makers. Opting for bans is the easiest way out.
