HOTELS CELEBRATE WITH FULL OCCUPANCY
Extending the Ramadan Holiday to 9 days has been a lifeline for the tourism sector. Those who combined the holiday with the mid-term break have started to show great interest in hotels. Sector representatives predict that occupancy rates will reach 100% from 85%. It is stated that there was an increase of approximately 10% in reservations in one day after the extension decision.
Increase in Last Minute Bookings
Holiday plans have changed with the administrative leave being extended to 9 days. Citizens who had not made reservations in advance turned to hotels and tourism companies. Tourism professionals state that with the extension of the holiday, reservations for 2-3 nights have increased to 4-5 nights. The occupancy rate of hotels across Turkey is currently around 85%. However, with last-minute reservations, this rate is expected to reach 100%.
Three Holidays in a Row
This period is quite busy for the tourism sector. The mid-term break and Easter holiday follow immediately after Ramadan. Turks living in Europe are coming to Turkey by combining the Eid holiday with the Easter holiday. Density is observed especially in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions.
Kaan Kavaloğlu, President of the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (AKTOB), stated that they welcomed the extension of the holiday to 9 days and said, “The Ramadan Holiday coincided with a short period, but reservations increased when it was combined with the mid-term break. We used to receive 2-3 night reservations, now 4-5 night stays are preferred. We expect hotel occupancy to exceed 80% with last minute sales.”
Mehmet İşler, President of the Aegean Tourism Enterprises and Accommodation Association (ETİK), stated that the extension of the holiday period made a significant contribution to the sector. İşler said, “As of yesterday, we observed an increase in reservation requests. Already, an increase of close to 10% has been reflected. This year we were going lower compared to previous years. Last year there was 100% occupancy, but this year we were at 85%. We believe that we will catch up with the 9-day holiday and we estimate that we will reach 100% occupancy.”
Coastal Hotels and Thermal Facilities are in Demand
Domestic and foreign tourists who see the holiday as an opportunity flock to coastal regions such as Antalya, Bodrum, Didim, Marmaris, Çeşme and Foça. In addition, thermal hotels in Afyon, Denizli and Cappadocia are also attracting great interest. Tourism professionals state that the length of stay has increased and the hotels are opening the season early.
Domestic Market Dominates in Cappadocia
Eid al-Fitr is also busy in Cappadocia. The occupancy rate of hotels in the region is expected to reach 80%. Although foreign tourist activity continues, it is stated that the domestic market will be more dominant during the holiday period.
How Much Are Hotel Prices?
Accommodation for 4 nights for 2 people in the most affordable hotels for the holiday varies between 7-10 thousand TL. Prices vary by region as follows:
Antalya: Accommodation in all-inclusive hotels starts from 7,500 TL, and in 5-star hotels, it ranges from 30,000 TL to 150,000 TL.
Çeşme: The average is 6,500 TL in boutique hotels, and it can go up to 49,000 TL in 5-star hotels.
Bodrum: It ranges from 28,000 TL to 96,000 TL in all-inclusive hotels.
TRNC: The most affordable accommodation starts from 14,000 TL, while prices can go up to 200,000 TL in luxury hotels.
Cappadocia: Hotel prices range from 10,000 TL to 150,000 TL.
