Representatives of the Aegean Region's tourism sector have announced their focus on health and wellness tourism as a new growth area, stating that the model centered on sun, sea, and sand has reached maturity. Speaking at a panel in Izmir titled "Ministry of Health's New Wellness Regulation and New Opportunities in the Accommodation Sector," sector representatives expressed that the new regulation will create significant opportunities, particularly for the Aegean Region.

The panel, organized in collaboration with the Izmir Health Tourism Association (İZSATU), Alanya Health Tourism Association (ALSTUD), TÜRSAB Izmir BTK, and the Aegean Tourism Enterprises and Accommodation Association (ETİK), discussed the future of health tourism and the contributions the new regulation will bring to the sector.

Health Tourism Now Goes Beyond Treatment

Bülent Cinel, President of İZSATU, who delivered the opening speech of the panel, drew attention to the significant changes in the scope of health tourism in recent years.

"The world no longer travels for surgery, treatment, or operations. People are now traveling for longer life, quality aging, stress management, metabolic health, and mental well-being," Cinel said, emphasizing that health tourism has become a much broader concept today.

Ahmet Girgin, Vice President of ALSTUD, touched upon the incentives the new regulation will provide to the accommodation sector, stating that hotels can benefit from support in many areas such as international fair promotions, employment of foreign language staff, digital marketing, and online sales platforms.

Yasemin Demirtaş, a Board Member of İZSATU, stated that travel agencies now sell experiences, not just holidays, adding, "In 10 years, we will be marketing healthy living."

New Opportunity for the Aegean Region

Mehmet İşler, President of ETİK and Vice President of TÜROFED, said that Turkish tourism has shown strong growth in recent years, but classic sun-sea-sand tourism will no longer be sufficient on its own.

"As we all know, Turkish tourism has grown with incredible figures and double digits since 2002. In the last five years, it has moved from eighth to fourth place globally. We reached this point by diversifying tourism. We used Sun, Sea, and Sand, but it has reached saturation. We must create a different exit. Because the target is 100 million tourists and 100 billion dollars in revenue by 2030," İşler stated, emphasizing that health tourism will play a significant role in achieving this goal.

İşler added that the New Wellness Regulation will fill an important gap for the sector, stating that the cooperation between health institutions and accommodation facilities will be placed on a more solid legal ground.

Izmir's Advantages Stand Out

İşler noted that Izmir, in particular, has significant advantages for healthy living and "longevity" tourism with its climate, gastronomy, lifestyle, and natural structure.

"Izmir is a very important center for health tourism. I have no doubt that Izmir, which has always been the city of firsts and pioneers in Turkey, will also lead in this regard. As the tourism sector, it is evident that we will increase our city's tourist numbers by working hand in hand for health tourism. There is very good and accumulated expertise in this city. By working with them, we will overcome the anchor of two and a half million tourists, which seems to be Izmir's fate."

Sector Views Should Be Reflected in Regulations

At the end of his speech, İşler emphasized the importance of consulting the tourism sector during the preparation of new regulations, stating, "As tourism professionals, we are hand in hand with health tourism. It is beneficial for some regulations to be made in consultation with us, the tourism professionals. Otherwise, we can become victims of these."

The panel concluded after the participants' questions were answered.

Visual: © ETİK