Day: March 19, 2026
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“Tourism is very important for our economy,” said Kaan Sahinalp, the Turkish representative of German travel giant TUI, News.az reports, citing BBC.
“But tourism depends on world events,” he said, adding that the war has regionally affected tourism as “many tourists now choose safer countries.”
For Sahinalp, who is also a tourism consultant based in Ankara, Türkiye’s performance in recent years demonstrates its global attractiveness. However, current regional tensions have created a more cautious market environment.
According to Murat Toktas, a tourism professional specializing in destination marketing, the most visible effects of the conflict have been concentrated in eastern provinces close to the Iranian border, where cross-border tourism flows have sharply declined due to travel disruptions.
“Businesses in these regions are facing temporary setbacks as tour programs linked to seasonal travel have been suspended,” Toktas said.
“But this should be viewed as a localized challenge rather than a nationwide downturn. Türkiye’s tourism sector has developed strong crisis management experience and adaptability,” this professional noted.
Sahinalp added that global tensions and conflicts have slowed booking momentum in some markets, meaning the sector is currently operating below its full potential.
“Bookings remain slow or largely on hold for now,” he stressed, adding that the industry is hoping for a swift end to the hostilities so that new reservations can pick up ahead of the summer season.
From Antalya, one of Türkiye’s main tourism hubs, industry professionals say booking patterns ahead of the summer reflect a more cautious approach among travelers rather than widespread cancellations.
“There have been some cancellations recorded before the start of the summer season,” said Recep Yavuz, a tourism expert based in the Mediterranean province.
“These are mostly linked to psychological concerns related to the war environment in the Middle East, particularly among European travelers,” he said, adding that many tourists are delaying reservations and adopting a wait-and-see attitude until geopolitical uncertainties become clearer.
Tourism professionals emphasize that Türkiye’s strategic location between Europe and Asia, rich cultural heritage and diverse natural attractions provide strong long-term growth potential, while stressing that the coming weeks will be crucial in shaping the outlook for the 2026 season, as booking activity typically accelerates closer to peak travel periods.
Tourism remains one of the key pillars of the Turkish economy, generating approximately 65 billion U.S. dollars in annual revenue and supporting employment across a wide range of sectors.
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Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said in a statement published by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Sepah News that Tehran had not sought to expand the conflict to oil infrastructure or harm the economies of friendly neighboring states, News.Az reports, citing CNN.
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“Following the enemies’ aggression against Iranian energy infrastructure, we have practically entered a new stage of war,” he said.
Zolfaghari said Iran’s response was ongoing and warned that further attacks would be met with more intense strikes targeting energy infrastructure linked to the United States, Israel and their allies.
On Wednesday, Israel struck Iran’s South Pars offshore natural gas field in the Gulf, which it shares with Qatar. Qatar later reported fires and extensive damage at liquefied natural gas facilities following Iranian strikes.
The escalation comes amid heightened tensions after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began Feb. 28, prompting retaliatory attacks by Iran and its regional allies against Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East.
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According to a statement posted by the ministry on social platform X, Kasaija made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation from the Export-Import Bank of China led by the bank’s Vice President Yang Dongning, News.az reports, citing BBC.
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He said Uganda is shifting away from raw material exports toward processing, manufacturing and higher-value products to better access Chinese and global markets.
In February, China announced that it would grant zero-tariff treatment from May 1 to products from 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties.
Praising China’s longstanding technical and financial support to Uganda across sectors, including transport, energy and health, Kasaija added that Uganda’s next growth phase will focus on agro-industrialization, export expansion and value addition in key sectors such as coffee, cotton, tea, minerals, tourism, and science, technology and innovation.
Yang pledged support for boosting investment flows to Uganda and connecting Ugandan enterprises with Chinese manufacturers and financiers.
The Export-Import Bank of China reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Uganda’s development through diversified financing tools, including trade finance, blended finance combining loans and equity, equity investments, strategic partnerships, syndicated financing and tailored financial products, according to the statement.
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