Tour operators expect a recovery of tourist flow from Russia to Turkey due to special offers

Arrivals from Russia to Turkey, which have decreased in the first quarter of this year, in the summer return to last year's figures, the press secretary of the Russian Union of Travel Industry Irina Turina reported, referring to the data of tour operators.

"From January to March Antalya has lost 47% of Russian tourists. Last year at this time Turkish resorts were visited by 61 thousand tourists, this year by only 32 thousand tourists. Tour operators say that the decline was related to the crisis. However, to the summer time, when most of the Turkish programs and special offers will be launched, the number of tourists is expected to recover," Irina Tyurina said.

According to the tour operator TUI Russia, Turkey is now the leader in early bookings, accounting about half of all tours sold. Previously Product, Marketing, and Contracting Director if TUI Russia Ivor Vukelik said that this year Turkey has lost a significant number of European tourists. The decline of interest caused by difficult situation in major cities of Turkey, as well as the volatile situation in the Middle East. However, the Russians typically do not care about such things, so hoteliers give special conditions fir Russian travelers, like: discounts of room rates and a greater number of quotas on accommodation in hotels, including the hotels of high price category.

Ivor Vukelik added that this year TUI kept the the same flight program to Turkey as last year.
 

Tour operator Pegas Touristik, who has reduced by 20% the volumes of Turkey due to lower pre-sales, now states the greater interest of tourists to this destination. Because of better ruble exchange rate, the number of bookings for Turkey is daily growing. In addition, experts say, if last year the Russians preferred to plan holidays in advance, now they mostly do last-moment bookings. Therefore, the demand grows for relatively low-cost and get-used-to Turkish destination.

Tez Tour company noted that the depth of sales in Turkey remains low. There are only few bookings for August and September.

Earlier, the Turkish authorities announced special measures to support the tour operators to keep the flow of tourists from Russia (the Russian Federation is the second largest market in Turkey). They promised to compensate costs for the organization of charter flights to major Russian tour operators who bring each year more than 400 thousand tourists.

Russian travel industry experts also confirm that this year, hoteliers offer good booking conditions. Many hotels extended early booking discounts until late April, and, depending on the hotel, the discount can reach 50%.

Turkey ranks second in the list of the most popular holiday destinations for Russians, after Finland. In the past year, according to Russian Department of Statistics, 4,220,000 tourists from Russia visited Turkey.