Local Turkiye

Foreigners show interest in Turkish winter tourism centres: Turkey Travel Agencies Association

Firuz Baglikaya, President of Turkey Travel Agencies Association (TURSAB) stated that both the domestic market and the Russian, Ukrainian and Polish markets are interested in winter tourism centres.

‘’We have tour operators planning charter flights from these 3 countries, especially for Erciyes and Palandoken. There is also demand from abroad for Uludag, Kartepe and Kartalkaya. Turkey has come to the fore in winter tourism.

In 2020, the number of international travels decreased by 70 percent in the January-August period as a result of the suspension of international travel and many countries closing their borders with the epidemic. According to the data of the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the number of international travels decreased by 700 million in the eight-month period, while the loss in international tourism income was $ 730 billion.’’

Baglikaya stated that there is a similar decrease in the world tourism as well and said:

‘’The number of tourists coming to Turkey decreased by 72 percent, to 13.6 million in the first ten-month period covering January-October 2020. 11.2 million of this was foreign visitors. We see that the top 5 countries that sent the most visitors in January-October 2020 period are Russia, Germany, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and England. The tourism income obtained from foreign visitors in the January-September period decreased by 69.4 percent compared to the same period of 2019, from $ 22.1 billion to $ 8 billion 145 million. We estimate that we will end 2020 with 15 million visitors and $ 10 billion of tourism income.’’

Reminding that the tourism revenues closed 96 percent of the foreign trade deficit in 2019, Baglikaya said:

‘’We expected to close all of the foreign trade deficit in 2020. Unfortunately, today’s data is not the data we share with excitement. When it comes to tourism, foreign visitors and finance come to mind naturally, but our citizens’ employment, welfare and social life are also important. The decrease in the number of tourists directly decreases the welfare of our citizens. It enlarges our current account deficit and employment deficit.’’

‘’I recommend our citizens to take advantage of affordable tour opportunities.’’

Firuz Baglikaya emphasized that TURSAB members started their early booking campaigns with discounts of up to 50 percent as of November this year, and stated that the domestic tour packages with a 3-month delay and up to 15 months of zero interest instalment payment options provide a serious facility for citizens who long for a holiday. Noting that the cancellation return guarantee is also offered to the tour packages purchased during the early booking process, Baglikaya said:

‘’Cancellation is granted up to 72 hours before the start of the holiday on domestic tours and up to 21 days before the international tour. For tours abroad, there are options where you can only make a reservation by paying 10 percent of the package price and the rest can be paid on the day the tour starts. Therefore, I recommend our citizens to take advantage of affordable tour opportunities.’’

Baglikaya noted that the news that the vaccine is available, and it will be implemented in western countries as of December have made them hopeful as the sector although there is no high demand for early bookings, Baglikaya said:

‘’ If the pandemic risk is mitigated and eliminated, there will be a serious increase in tourism in the summer of 2021. We think that there may be a recovery since people all over the world have closed to their homes for a long time due to the pandemic. Travel demand may increase rapidly. Therefore, it will be beneficial for our citizens to make their holiday reservations at affordable prices by taking advantage of early booking opportunities.’’

Stating that very important hygiene criteria has been introduced and successfully implemented in Turkey in airports, tours, transfer vehicles and hotels, Baglikaya noted that the measures taken will continue to be implemented very seriously in the tourism sector in 2021, and that citizens can take a holiday with peace of mind as long as mask, distance and hygiene rules are followed.

Russia, Ukraine and Poland shows interest in winter tourism centres

Stating that the first activity in the tourism sector in this period will be in winter tourism, Baglikaya said:

‘’Although less compared to past years, there is still interest in our winter tourism centres both from the domestic market and from the Russian, Ukrainian and Polish markets. We have tour operators planning charter flights from these 3 countries especially for Erciyes and Palandoken. There is also demand from abroad for Uludag, Kartepe and Kartalkaya. Turkey has come to the fore in winter tourism. If there is no problem caused by the pandemic, these tours will start on December 18 and will last until the end of March.’’

Emphasizing that it should be underlined that measures against the virus should be implemented in a very effective way and that activities can be realized with measures, Baglikaya said:

‘’Uludag Ski Centre, which mainly appeals to the domestic market, is also in demand from Ukraine and Russia. Last year, there were 350 thousand overnight stays and 1 million 122 thousand visitors. Reservation requests for Uludag, which stands out in the domestic market, especially during the 15-day semester break, continue well this year. Palandoken Ski Centre is currently showing 80 percent occupancy during the season for the winter period, with the demands from Ukraine, Russia and Poland. As of December 27, there will be two flights a week from Russia from Moscow.

A total of 2 million 250 thousand people visited Erciyes Ski Centre last year. In 2020 winter period, charter flights will be organized to Erciyes Ski Centre from the markets of Ukraine, Russia and Poland. Charter flights will start on December 18th and will continue until the 15th of March. 6 charter flights a week are expected to go Erciyes.

The demand from abroad for the tourism facilities in Kartalkaya Ski Centre is at a good level this year. We know that overall sales are also good. Occupancy in the region, which reached an average occupancy rate of 80 percent in the last winter period, is expected to be at similar levels this year. Last year, Kartepe hosted nearly 1 million visitors with one-day visit. If there are no new and additional restrictions regarding the pandemic, it is predicted that the numbers of the previous year will be reached again.’’

‘’Successful health practices and vaccination studies should be used effectively in promotion of Turkish tourism.’’

Firuz Baglikaya pointed out that with the introduction of the vaccine, the negative effects of the pandemic will begin to disappear and the travel restrictions are expected to be lifted gradually, and they hope that this will result in a positive result in terms of tourism. Stating that European countries are especially the most important tourism market for Turkey, and that the possibility of rapid vaccination supports their hopes on this issue, Baglikaya noted that an increase in travel movements originating from European countries can be expected in 2021. He said:

‘’ There will be more travel from vaccination countries to safe countries. In this process, using the hygiene measures taken in the field of tourism in promotion of Turkish tourism will positively affect early reservation requests from abroad with the progress achieved in successful health practices and vaccination studies in our country. “

Reminding that some restrictions have been imposed in order to control the pandemic, Baglikaya pointed out that consumers who will benefit from tour, package tour, accommodation or transfer services booked by travel agencies are exempted from the restrictions imposed, and that foreigners who are in the country for touristic purposes will also be exempted from the curfew on weekends.

Baglikaya noted that the fact that restaurants and cafes will only offer take-away services will affect tourism, but tourists can also benefit from the eating and drinking places in their hotels.  


‘’The year 2021 should be declared as domestic tourism mobilization.’’

Baglikaya stated that tourism is the sector most severely damaged by the virus and that different solutions should be produced from other sectors for this. Stating that a limited number of agencies can benefit from the support packages, Baglikaya completed his words as follows:

‘’If we are going to establish a tourism plan for 2021 and forward, supports that are useful, realistic and that do not put the needy in a difficult situation should be implemented. For example, registration amnesty is a must for tourism professionals. Credit supports should not left to the pleasure of banks in order to improve tourism. KGF should operate under realistic conditions. Plans should be prepared to encourage people who are overwhelmed with staying at home to travel through their troubles, as well as consumer loans that will give them the right to take a vacation. The year 2021 should be declared as domestic tourism mobilization. This is needed not only to recover the sector, but also to establish the mental health of the society. The state should get together with the industry and apply common sense. The roadmap for exit from the crisis and its aftermath should be prepared urgently, with the works to be contributed by everyone.

source: AA / translated by Melisa Karayusufoglu

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