24.05.2025 11:00
The decrease in the number of Georgian tourists coming to Kemalpaşa, a border district of Artvin, has impacted the local trade. Local shopkeeper Kardelen Yılmaz stated, "Our business has dropped significantly compared to last year. Georgians are no longer coming; I think new stores have opened in their own country. Our costs are very high, but there are no sales." Another shopkeeper, Yaşar Altunkaya, said, "There is an incredibly low amount of business. Some are closing their shops without even making a sale."
The decrease in Georgian tourists coming to the border district of Kemalpaşa in Artvin has dealt a blow to the local trade. Local shopkeeper Kardelen Yılmaz stated, "Our business has dropped significantly compared to last year. Georgians are no longer coming; I think they have opened new stores in their own country. Our costs are very high, but there are no sales." Shopkeeper Yaşar Altunkaya added, "There is an incredibly low amount of business. Some are closing their shops without even making a sale."
In the Kemalpaşa district, which borders Georgia, shopkeepers are experiencing one of the most stagnant periods in recent years. The decrease in Georgian tourists, which is the lifeblood of border trade, has nearly brought trade in the region to a standstill.
Kardelen Yılmaz, who runs a shop, noted that business has been steadily declining, saying, "I am in the optical sector, and I have a shop. Our business has seriously decreased compared to last year. We are close to the Georgian border gate, but Georgians are no longer coming. Probably, many stores have opened there, so they do not prefer the stores here. Our costs are very high, but we have no sales. The customers who come just look; they usually do their shopping online. We open the shop, sit all day, and eventually close it. We are paying for electricity for nothing; nothing else happens," she said.
"WHY WOULD TOURISTS COME HERE? THERE'S NOT EVEN A TOILET"
Mehmet Ali pointed out that the lack of infrastructure in the district is one of the biggest reasons for the absence of tourists. Stating that the shopkeepers are "in a dire situation," Ali remarked:
"Tourists are not coming. One of the reasons is that there isn't even a toilet for people to use here. There is one further down, but it is not usable. This is a tourist area, isn't it? Why would tourists come here? There need to be nice things, events, and places to visit. There is no place here where we can engage in social activities. When tourists don't come, we can't do business either. We pay our taxes, but since sales are low, we struggle to pay the taxes," he said.
"MOST BUSINESS OWNERS ARE CLOSING THEIR SHOPS WITHOUT A SALE"
Shopkeeper Yaşar Altunkaya stated that many shopkeepers are on the verge of closing their businesses due to rising rents based on the dollar. Altunkaya said: "The season is approaching, the weather is warming up, but nothing is changing. Currently, rents have increased in dollar terms. Rents used to be in TL, but now they are asking for rent in dollars. Shopkeepers can't even pay their employees. Some shop owners will close their shops because they can't do business, but they can't even find the shipping cost to send their goods. I have my own branch; I put one up for sale, but until today, no one has even asked, 'How much are you selling it for?' There is an incredibly low amount of business. Some are closing their shops without a sale. Only some textile groups are doing business, but the situation is very bad in other sectors, especially outside of clothing and footwear. Georgians have started coming, but not as we expected. Right now, Georgians are exchanging 100 Lari for 1,400 TL and emptying the market with that money. It is said that the Chinese market has entered Batumi. If this is true, we have no chance of competing with them. They sell shoes for 10 Lari there. They may not be durable, but because they look good, young people are deceived and do not come to Kemalpaşa. Customs duties have also increased. Customs should facilitate tourists because there are queues there, and that is why tourists are not coming. Our shopkeeper friends should also welcome the incoming tourists well and offer discounts. I don't know if the old market will return.
"OUR SHOPKEEPERS ARE LITERALLY CRYING"
Talip Gümüşkaya, a taxi driver from Kemalpaşa, said, "Our business is very bad. Naturally, the shopkeepers of Kemalpaşa are in a difficult situation because Georgians are not coming. Our business has dropped significantly compared to previous years. Food is expensive, clothing is expensive, everything is expensive. The entrance fee at the Sarp Border Gate is also high. The state of the country is evident; if those in charge fix things, maybe business will return to normal. No one can withstand these price increases. Our shopkeepers are literally crying," he said.
Shopkeeper Sedat Yıldız, who sells alcoholic beverages, stated, "Business is very bad; the summer season has not yet started, but still, no one is shopping. No one is buying alcohol. Although it is said that it is consumed for pleasure, people have started drinking out of necessity. These price increases are stressing people out. Just across the border, alcohol prices are much lower than the prices we sell. Products that we sell for 2,000 TL are 700 TL there. Naturally, people buy from Georgia. In the 'free shops' across the border, alcohol is sold tax-free. We pay taxes, accounting, and rent, but customers prefer tax-free products. Even if they pay the entrance fee, it still comes out cheaper."