High demand at hotels ahead of Eid al-Adha

The decision to set the Eid al-Adha holiday at 9 days has accelerated travel plans across the country. According to information provided by Pronto Tour Chairman of the Board Ali Onaran, occupancy rates in tourist facilities have reached over 90 percent due to the holiday. The length of the holiday emerged as the most important factor determining the preferences of vacationers.

According to Onaran, weather conditions also shaped the demand for holiday resorts. In particular, the Black Sea and Southeastern Anatolia regions, as well as Cyprus, were among the prominent destinations during this period. While interest in long-term package tours has increased, changes in the habits of vacationers have also been observed. Stating that "when there was no 9-day holiday, shorter packages were preferred," Onaran pointed out that this year has been different.

INCREASES OF UP TO 30 PERCENT IN PRICES

Ali Onaran stated that this intense demand has also been significantly reflected in prices. Explaining that domestic holiday prices have risen by approximately 30 percent compared to last year, Onaran said that there has been a limited increase of 4 percent in foreign currency terms for international travel. Pointing out that airfare accounts for almost half of the total cost of package tours, he said, "When you prepare a thousand-dollar package, a large portion of it goes to transportation expenses."

JAPAN AND EGYPT DRAW ATTENTION IN INTERNATIONAL DEMAND

According to the data shared by Onaran, there are significant changes in international destinations. Interest in tours to Japan has increased by 80 percent compared to last year. Demand for the Balkans, however, has remained below last year's levels. He stated that the atmosphere of war had reduced demand for trips to Egypt; however, after the change in climate conditions, Egypt has begun to become popular again. The Greek Islands, on the other hand, saw less demand than expected.

In Turkey, a very active period is being experienced, especially in domestic tourism. Approximately 15 million people are expected to travel across the country during the holiday. An increase of between 25 and 30 percent has been recorded in interest in international tours compared to the same period last year.

DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF US TOURISTS

Sector representatives point to some difficulties in the foreign market. Onaran said that there has been a decrease of approximately 20 percent in the number of tourists coming to Turkey from the United States. It is believed that the war environment in the region plays a role in this.

Following all these developments, it was stated that the increase in demand during the holiday period also provides hope for summer season expectations. Sector representatives point out the importance of closely monitoring price fluctuations and destination trends in the coming period.

News Source: 12punto