Turkey hoped that this year, when the pandemic measures have eased, it would return to the good old days. But the war in Ukraine keeps away Russians and Ukrainians.
By the end of February, tourism workers in Turkey were rubbing their hands in joy. Reservations from Germany for the season had exceeded 300%. The country was at the top of the preferences for reasons related to the constant devaluation of the Turkish pound.
But after the start of the war in Ukraine there is skepticism that becomes apparent in tourist areas such as Antalya. The groups of tourists coming from Russia, followed by Germany and Ukraine, are less. The tourist season, which begins at Easter, does not begin under favorable omens.
Flexible cancellation terms
The temperature in Antalya is currently around 23 degrees. It is not hot for swimming, but it is not the snowstorm that broke out in Germany suddenly at the end of March. People sit in a cafe with short sleeves and drink traditional Turkish tea. The antiseptic is no longer on the tables, in the hotels the buffet is laid again, during a pandemic the waiter brought the dishes to the table. Deniz Ugur owns the travel company Bentour and is one of the leading travel agents in Turkey. After two years of pandemic, people finally want to travel again.
And to motivate them to book again, he adopted a flexible way with an additional 29 euros per booking. This allows its customers to cancel more flexibly. “In a travel cancellation insurance, reasons are always provided, such as illness, which must be confirmed by a doctor, it is not enough to just mention the reason. In our case, there is no need for a reason “. Theoretically, the customer can book at another agency, if he finds a cheaper price, but Denise Ugur considers it unlikely.
“We are waiting for difficult times”
“Flight prices are rising due to rising energy prices, although the fuel surcharge is still within the limits, around 30 euros per person. But it depends on how the war in Ukraine develops. “As far as hotel prices are concerned, we always traditionally negotiate them in euros.” Mustafa Gilmiz owns the three-star Selenium Hotel in Side, 96 km east of Antalya. “Our prices have remained the same as last year, but our suppliers due to inflation will raise them, we are expecting more difficult times.”
At the moment his associates are picking oranges from the trees, the quantities are reaching for the low season. But for what will happen in the main season, he does not dare to make predictions. For Easter he estimated 70% bookings, in fact half will come. The Russians and Ukrainians canceled, as did some Germans. The war in Ukraine is also an issue among tourists who came to Antalya for their Easter vacation. The climate is not optimistic, but the hope for a lucrative tourism after the pandemic strikes dies last.
Karin Zents
Edited by: Irini Anastassopoulou
Deutsche Welle
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