“The demand for tours to Turkey for the summer season 2019 within early booking program increased an average by 20-25% compared to last year, despite rising prices for tour packages”, told the press secretary of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST) Irina Tyurina.
"Most companies have noted a growth of interest for Turkey by 20-25%, although the prices of tour packages have risen markedly. Firstly, due to the fact that the prices are now converted into Euros. Secondly, many hotels have raised tariffs before the season. Thirdly, the demand for Turkey is growing in Europe, which reduces the desire of hoteliers to give Russian partners special prices. Consumers simply adapt to the changes,”she said.
According to I.Tyurina, in order to save money, tourists book tours for fewer duration, choose a lower level hotel or a cheaper resort, or choose trips not in high season.
"Tour operators in the regions of the central part of Russia say that Turkey remains the favorite beach destination of the summer. The companies predict a fall in demand for Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, stagnation on the Greek destination, but there will be growth for Turkey and Russia, because at the early booking stage, demand grew by 20–23% compared last year,” the PST press secretary noted.
She also added that tourists in regions try to save money by shifting the purchase of the tour to the beginning of the season, since prices may fall by 20-25% by that time due to under loading of flights.
The PST reported that the incomes of residents of the regions to the east of the Urals are lower, and the cost of trips is slightly higher due to the remoteness of the Turkish resorts, so the reaction is more noticeable - travelers book Turkey not as active as last year. In Siberia, the destination is still among the most popular, it accounts up to 70-80% of sales of early booking, but expensive tours are not very popular.
Some travel companies have noted an increase in bookings of expensive hotels, as there may be no free rooms in the summer time.
