A province in Turkey has launched a "request and complaint hotline" on the messenger platform WhatsApp to aid tourists visiting the city.Governor of western Turkey's Edirne province, Günay Özdemir, stated that visitors would be able communicate their requests and complaints instantly to the Provincial Directorate of Tourism through the hotline. After lodging a complaint, related units would intervene to help solve any problems.

Özdemir said during a press conference that the city of Edirne had gained momentum in the tourism sector. Emphasizing the city's potential for further culture and tourism initiatives, Özdemir continued, "All the stakeholders in tourism are working very hard."

The governor added that the province would reward the touristic institutions that received the fewest number of complaints from tourists. "We do not want to just punish those who do poorly, but we want to publicly show our appreciation to those who do their jobs well."

Özdemir also said that those who abused the hotline with misplaced requests and complaints could also be punished.

Edirne Mayor Recep Gürkan stated that he believed the WhatsApp hotline would make everyone's lives easier by helping to meet the needs of tourists in a sustainable manner.

"There will always be those who do their jobs well and those who do not. We must regulate and rejuvenate them for the sustainability of the system and for the benefit of Edirne, not by punishing and shying them away, but by improving and correcting their actions."

Tourists to the region can now send their requests and complaints to "+905528402222" via the WhatsApp messenger service.