Turks are expected to turn to the Greek islands during the summer months, estimates Turkey's tourism industry, according to the Turkish opposition newspaper Karar, which reports that Turkey is expensive even for tourists.
Turkish economists point out that "things no longer look as good as they used to in the tourism sector, one of Turkey's most important sources of foreign exchange."
Economist Inan Mutlu told the opposition newspaper Karar that “the number of tourists is decreasing, Turkey has become expensive,” and drew attention to the sharp increase in restaurant and hotel prices. “We are no longer cheap even for foreign tourists,” the Turkish economist said, adding that the data shows that Turkey is starting to lose its price advantage in tourism.
Economist Hakan Kara, citing data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), says that "the number of tourists is decreasing for the first time since the pandemic. Tourists find Turkey expensive."
The "Restaurant and Hotel Price Index" table, compiled by Mr. Mutlou based on Eurostat data, reveals the extent of price increases in Turkey.
According to the data, in the index based on April 2023, restaurant and hotel prices in Turkey increased by 178% in just two years. During the same period, the increase in Greece was limited to only 12%.
"Turkey is now expensive even for foreign tourists. Considering that the exchange rate has not increased that much, the price increase is even more remarkable," he said.
According to the newspaper, while Inan Mutlu said he expects Turkish tourists to turn to the Greek islands again this summer, experts emphasize that Turkey has lost its price-performance advantage when it comes to foreign tourists.
The newspaper writes that tourism industry representatives warn that Turkey's loss of identity as an "affordable destination" may lead middle-income tourists, especially Europeans, to turn to alternative routes.
Source: KYPE
