Turkiye’s inflation has risen dramatically in recent months. It reached an alarming level of 75.4% by May.
The steep increase in costs, which is mainly due to the soaring prices of hotels, restaurants and cafes has rendered domestic travel unaffordable by many Turkish nationals.
In order to reduce their travel costs, more Turkish tourists now choose international destinations, especially Greece.
Costs of domestic travel are increasing
Turkiye’s inflation has risen dramatically since last year, when the government introduced measures to control foreign currencies.
In an environment of inflation, these steps led to a rise in the domestic travel price. Kivanc Meric explains, as the Chairman of Izmir Regional Representative Board of Association of Turkish Travel Agencies TURSAB (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies), that Turkish citizens are now more likely to choose to holiday abroad rather than within their own country.
Meric emphasizes that high costs do not result from hoteliers increasing prices to increase profits, but rather are the result of higher operational expenses.
The inflationary pressures have also affected Turkiye’s ability to attract tourists from abroad.
Turkiye, once a popular destination, particularly in the Mediterranean, has suffered from a price gap.
Decline in hotel occupancy rates
Turkiye’s major holiday resorts have seen a significant decline in bookings for hotels this year. Traditionally, the high-demand months of August and July are when hotel occupancy is at its highest.
Most popular destinations on the Aegean or Mediterranean Coasts struggle to reach even 80% occupancy. These areas typically have occupancy rates of 90-95%.
Tourism in Turkey is heavily dependent on high-season, which runs from June to September.
The earnings of the industry are not significantly affected by shoulder seasons such as April, May and September. Many hotels are still not at their ideal occupancy level despite it being the middle of summer.
Costs of cultural and archaeological tourism
The cost of tickets for archaeological sites run by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is also increasing.
These sites charge entrance fees in Euros, which increases the costs for tourists from within France.
For example, the old entry fee to Ephesus used to be EUR15. Now it is EUR40.
The increase in entrance fees in Turkiye has been detrimental to the cultural tourism industry.
Egypt is a popular alternative destination for travellers, particularly those who come from far-flung regions.
The number of Turkiye tourists taking part in cultural tours has decreased.
Greece and Balkans are preferred destination
As domestic travel costs rise, Turkish tourists increasingly look to Greece and Balkans as cheaper alternatives.
Samos is a Greek island located only 1.6 km from the Turkish coastline. It has gained a lot of popularity among Turkish tourists.
In the past, between 35,000 and 40,000 Turkish tourists visited Samos. This year’s number of visitors is estimated to be anywhere from 100,000 to 150,000.
Lesbos has seen an increase in Turkish visitors as well, thanks to its beautiful beaches and historical importance. The island’s popularity was particularly high during the recent Turkiye three-day holiday, when long lines formed at its border.
The new visa system makes it easier to travel to the Greek Islands
A new visa system introduced in April is one of the main factors behind the rise in Turkish tourism to Greece.
The scheme allows holders of Turkish passports to travel to 10 Greek Islands for up to one week, without the need to obtain a Schengen Visa.
This program includes Lesbos (Leros), Limnos, Chios (Samos), Leros (Kalymnos), Kos and Rhodes.
Prior to this, Turkish tourists had to go through a long visa application procedure via the Greek Consulate at Izmir.
This new travel visa costs EUR60 and is available at Greek ports that participate. It includes passport checks and the recording of fingerprints.
The simplified procedure has allowed Turkish tourists more convenience to travel to these Greek Islands, contributing further to the increase in tourism.
As new information becomes available, this post Turkish tourists flocking to Greece amid rising inflation may be updated.
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