DİHA - Dicle News Agency

ISTANBUL (DIHA) - The Association of the Tourist Hotelkeepers and Hotel Managers, TUROB Chairman Ahmet Barut, criticized the government for its policies followed in the field of tourism and asked the AK Party administration to keep the words made concerning tourism.

Speaking a press conference held in Malta Chalet in Yıldız Park, Beşiktaş, Istanbul, TUROB Head Barut said those problems experienced in tourism should be solved as soon as possible, argued that the government was preparing to impose a levy of 3 per cent on statement of turnover that tourist hotels announce.

Indicating that there is a 10-point difference between tourism taxes in Turkey and those in other countries, Barut said "The name of this is unfair competition in the international literature of trade, but which we ourselves created by our own hands; whereas, the prime minister had given a signal that value added tax (VAT), which is 18 per cent, would be drawn down for tourism sector. While we were waiting for support, a surprising decree came on a few weeks ago. By a drafted bill prepared by plans is to levy on tourism endorsement by a 3 percent of accommodation taxes".

'The AKP policies have brought us to almost the level of rebellion'

Barut, who demonstrated that tourism sector makes a great contribution to Turkey's economy, said they were expecting 20 million tourists and despite all these the AKP's tourism policies have been urging the sector into difficulty. "Polices pursued in the field of tourism by the government did almost make us rebel", continued Barut.

"In last 6 years, Turkey has been enlarging steadily, and we hope this acceleration will keep on. We are targeting to host 30 million tourists in year 2010; that is to say, there is no another country as fast growing as Turkey is. However, the AKP's tourism policies did almost make us arrive at the level of rebellion. We are sharply criticizing the ruling administration for current policies", quoted Barut as saying.

(ss/zd/mç)