EXTENDED HOLİDAY COULD DİSRUPT BUSİNESS FOR TRADERS

ETO President Metin Güler stated that extending the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday could disrupt commerce in all cities outside the coastal areas, adding that such an extension would harm traders and shopkeepers struggling to recover in non-coastal cities.

Commenting on the potential extension of the Eid al-Adha holiday to 10 days, Güler noted that while the tourism season is set to become even busier as Covid-19 restrictions ease, prolonging the holiday to boost tourism could negatively impact other sectors.

Coastal Cities Gain, Others Lose

Güler explained that during extended holiday periods, economic activity generally increases in coastal cities, benefiting businesses there. However, he pointed out that production and commerce in non-coastal cities tend to be interrupted, leading to decreased trade volumes. Güler stressed that such a scenario would further strain traders and shopkeepers who have faced challenging times due to the pandemic, operating below capacity for 16 months and striving to recover.

Holiday Extension Will Disrupt Trade

Emphasizing the importance of sustained economic activity across the entire country and all sectors, Güler warned that an extended holiday would disrupt trade just as business activity is rebounding. He acknowledged the importance of tourism in reducing the country’s foreign exchange deficit but cautioned that other sectors should not be overlooked to boost tourism income.