The number of trips from Russia to Turkey in 2023 increased by 20% up to 6.31 million, approaching the record level of the pre-pandemic 2019 (about 7 million people). At the same time, last year season was one of the worst for Russian tourists in Turkey, as due to the price increase for accommodation and the ruble weakening. According to the experts, comparing with the last year the price surge for holidays in Turkey is about 2.5-3.5 times.
According to preliminary data from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism in 2023, Russian citizens made 6.31 million trips to Turkey, which is 20% more than in 2022 (5.23 million). RBC says the tourist flow of Russians to Turkey exceeded the numbers of 2018 (5.96 million people) and approached the record pre-pandemic level of 2019 (about 7 million people).
Russia is one of the leading countries in terms of the total influx of foreigners to Turkey, its share is 12.8%. Germany, Great Britain, Bulgaria and Iran also entered the top 5 leaders.
Dmitry Gorin, Vice President of the Russian Union of Tourism Industry, told RBC that in 2023 Turkey took more than 50% of all tourist trips of Russians abroad, namely, 54.8% of Russian tourists (3.46 million people) visited Antalya resorts. 2 million people visited Istanbul, which this is 32.6% more than a year earlier.
After the EU ban for Russian aircraft in March 2022, Turkey remains one of the few countries with direct flights from Russia. At the same time, in 2023, their number increased compared to 2022, according to the press service of the tour operator Fun & Sun. Some of the planes of Russian carriers that were "cleared" of double registration were able to resume flights to the country, ATOR Vice President Artur Muradyan added.
Dmitry Gorin noted that the tourist flow of Russians to Turkey in 2023 would have been even higher if not for the increase in hotel prices and the weakening of the ruble against the euro. Intourist called last year's season one of the worst for Russian tourists in Turkey, noting that due to the sharp rise in hotel prices and the weakening of the ruble, tours to the country rose in price by 2.5–3.5 times. The average check for a vacation in Turkey for two amounted to 185 000 rubles (about 2000 euro) last summer, the Association of tour operators of Russia calculated.
This year, Turkish hoteliers have changed their pricing policy. The average check in euro for early bookings has decreased by 12%, Intourist reported. Fun & Sun confirms that the rates for accommodation are almost 20% lower this year.
According to Muradyan, the demand for holidays in Turkey in 2024 is expected to be higher than in 2023, and may reach the record of 2019. According to Gorin, in 2024, the Russian tourist flow to Turkey may grow by 10 - 15%, according to the forecast of the Russian Express — by 20 - 30%.
Photo by Lewis J Goetz
