Kaan Kavaloğlu, President of the Mediterranean Tourist Hoteliers and Operators Association, stated that the 18 million tourist target set for Antalya will not be met, but that the figures will not fall short of last year's figures either.

Kaan Kavaloğlu, President of the Mediterranean Tourist Hoteliers and Operators Association (AKTOB), stated that reaching the 18 million tourist target set for Antalya at the beginning of the 2025 season will be difficult. Kavaloğlu stated that the target was overly optimistic and that the crises in the region had negatively impacted expectations.

Kavaloğlu stated that the season had passed the critical threshold with 7.5 million visitors in mid-July, adding that while the 18 million target would not be surpassed by last year, the AKTOB President also stated that the new target is to surpass last year's 17 million mark.

Kavaloğlu highlighted the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and developments in the Middle East, noting that tensions between Israel and Iran and Palestine and Israel are, in particular, suppressing tourism. Kavaloğlu stated that the Iran-Israel tensions have had a greater impact on the city's hotels, but that losses in Antalya were limited.

Kavaloğlu emphasized that the domestic market and Turkish citizens in Europe constitute a strong tourism resource, noting that there has been an increase in the number of tourists from the UK and Poland, while Russia remains the leading tourist destination.

Kavaloğlu also noted that costs have increased due to the stagnation of the exchange rate, but this has not been reflected in prices, indicating that the sector's profitability is under pressure. Despite this, Kavaloğlu stated that Antalya offers more affordable holidays than rival destinations.