Isbank General Manager Hakan Aran stated that they aim to increase the $1 billion loan balance for the tourism sector to $2 billion in a 2-year period.
The 13th International Resort Tourism Congress, organized this year by the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (AKTOB), started at the Nest Congress Center in the Belek Tourism Region in Antalya.
Aran said that at the congress, they determined some sectors that would contribute to the country’s economy as strategic priority areas and set out on a journey to take steps and breakthroughs that would change the fate of that sector on a Turkish scale.
Pointing out that tourism is a sector with a very high multiplier effect, Aran stated that everyone from local handicrafts to restaurants, from souvenir sellers to farmers, gains with tourism.
Stating that Turkiye’s first century was marked by agriculture and industry, Aran said, “From now on, in the digital age, we think that the contribution of tourism to the national economy in Turkiye and its share of the national economy will increase, and the loans given by the banking sector to tourism will grow exponentially.”
Stating that they will transform the corporate branch in Antalya into a “Tourism Specialized Branch”, Aran said:
“After Antalya, we will open ‘Tourism Specialized Branches’ in other provinces such as Mugla, Istanbul and Izmir, which contribute the most to tourism income in terms of the country’s economy. The focus of these branches will be entirely on hotels and operators. There will be employees who will only offer products and services for the tourism sector, who know the needs of the sector and who speak the same language as sector representatives.”
Aran noted that banking is a sector where competition is very intense.
Pointing out that non-governmental organizations and relevant unions, as well as the public, are extremely strong in the tourism sector, Aran said, “Tourism is one of the areas in Turkiye where everyone has the same will and can afford to do something when they want to do it. I think this will be evaluated very well and tourism will be one of the important milestones of Turkiye’s second century story.”
“We aim to increase the loan volume in the sector to $2 billion”
Hakan Aran stated that, as Isbank, they always support the tourism sector.
Stating that they will make moves that will at least double the amount of credit given to the sector so far, Aran continued his words as follows:
“We have a loan balance of $1 billion for the tourism sector. We aim to increase the loan volume of $1 billion to $2 billion in the next two years. We will provide an additional $1 billion of resources under the most favorable conditions in a wide range of areas, from renovation loans to energy efficiency, from waste management to green transformation, from financing pre-season preparations to new facility investments. We think that 2024-2025 could be investment years for the sector. Opportunities should be evaluated very carefully. If two years pass with investments, 2026 will be a boom year.”
Stating that they will establish a “Tourism Banking Department” within the bank, Aran stated that they will initially support the sector through loans after the establishment of specialized branches in the sector to which they attach strategic importance.
Stating that there will be a “Tourism Card” application for the sector, Aran stated that they will adjust the payment periods of the cards according to the income structure of tourism and will create financial products in accordance with the life cycle of tourism professionals.
Source: AA / Prepared by Irem Yildiz