Tourism in Turkiye: Hotel Occupancy Rates Approach 100% in Turkey

Mehmet İşler, Vice President of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation (TÜROFED) and President of the Aegean Touristic Enterprises and Accommodations Association (ETİK), announced that the tourism sector experienced a double celebration during the Eid al-Adha holiday, with occupancy rates in accommodation facilities approaching 100%.

Mehmet İşler, Vice President of TÜROFED and President of ETİK, revealed the reservation rates during the Eid al-Adha holiday. İşler stated, “Extending the holiday to nine days and people making plans had a positive impact on the tourism sector. Tour operators welcomed this development. We observe a concentration of reservations during these nine days, with five days being particularly busy. In some places, the peak occurs in the first five days, while in others, it is towards the last five days. One thing is certain, the extended nine-day holiday also allows for smoother traffic flow during departures from and returns to cities. It was a very appropriate decision in terms of preventing traffic congestion at city entrances and exits. We can say that the tourism sector is experiencing a double celebration.” İşler also added that the occupancy rates in accommodation facilities are approaching 100%.

Ege Region, the Most Popular Destination

Highlighting the Aegean region as the most popular destination for domestic tourism, İşler stated, “The Aegean region offers a wide range of products that appeal to everyone. The lifestyle in the Aegean region, especially the vibrant nightlife by the seaside, attracts a high demand from domestic tourists. In addition to the lifestyle of İzmir residents, the diverse range of products that cater to everyone enhances the attractiveness and appeal of the Aegean region. There are accommodation options available for everyone, ranging from 1,000 liras to 1,000 euros. Due to this rich diversity, the Aegean region experiences significant demand in the domestic market.”

“75% Increase in Italian Visitors”

Emphasizing the importance of the international market after the domestic market, İşler continued, “The reservation flow, which had been slow until the election period, has started to return to normal. Especially the reservation flows from our two main markets, Germany and Russia, have begun to increase. The increase in room reservations in Italy, a country that shares the same basin with the Mediterranean region, is also remarkable for 2023. Compared to the previous year, there is a 75% increase in Italian visitors. By gradually increasing the diversity in our tourism market, we have started to see new increases in other markets apart from our two main markets, on which we are dependent. While we are currently setting our sights on making 2023 the best year ever in tourism, it seems that the holiday season will also be fruitful. Currently, the occupancy rates have reached nearly 100% during the Eid al-Adha holiday. We are witnessing a rapid sales graph, especially with last-minute bookings. It can be said that citizens are making their reservations for the remaining places within these 100% occupancy rates.”

“The Best Year Ever in Turkish Tourism”

Mehmet İşler, noting that the year 2022 set new records in tourism, stated that the reservation data indicated that 2023 would be a year in which these records would be surpassed. He said, “In 2023, Turkish tourism is poised to achieve the best year ever, setting a new record. Especially compared to May of last year, we started this season with a 16% increase in Turkey, and a significant increase of 24% for the first five months. This is a strong indicator that 2023 will be better than both 2022 and 2019. Our most important markets, Russia and Germany, continue to share the top two spots consecutively. However, it appears that the reservation flow will continue to increase after the earthquake, elections, and exams, as the weather quickly heats up. It seems that we will achieve our goal of 60 million tourists and $55 billion in revenue by the end of the year. As you all know, last year, Turkey welcomed 55 million tourists and generated $45 billion in revenue. This year, in line with the 2023 tourism strategy, we will achieve the target of 60 million tourists and $55 billion. This will secure a place for Turkish tourism in history as the best year ever.”