Despite the unfavorable conjuncture, the tourism sector, which left behind a successful season, continues to receive positive news for the coming year.
Early booking data from Germany for the summer of 2024 signals a good summer season for Turkish tourism sector. According to the report of Travel Data + Analytics (TDA), a company compiling data on the travel market, Turkey rose to the first place in early bookings for the summer season in Germany, leaving Spain behind.
Roland Gaßner, Head of Business Development at TDA, said: “Despite inflation, bookings are being made in Germany for summer 2024. Turkey has been in the first place for some time in terms of bookings for six months or more in advance.” Although Spain is Germany’s biggest holiday destination, Turkey has reportedly overtaken this country in early booking sales.
According to TDA data, Spain’s Canary Islands and Egypt are leading in winter season bookings. Although Spain is Germany’s biggest holiday.
Turkey becoming a 12-month vacation destination
In the report, which states that Turkey is not far behind Spain in 2023 in package tours sold through online portals and travel agencies, it is stated that “Turkey is gradually turning into a 12-month vacation destination. As of the end of October, Turkey ranks second after the Canary Islands and Egypt in 2023-24 winter sales.”
Turkey has the highest turnover
Roland GaBner, Business Development Director at Travel Data + Analytics, pointed out that Turkey is the destination with the highest turnover for bookings with a depth of 6 months or more. Noting that inflation in Turkey is rising faster than in other destinations, the report stated that hoteliers have to bear high energy, labor and food costs due to inflation of 40-60 percent.
Prices increased by 12 percent
According to TDA’s analysis, in 2023, Turkish hotels in Germany compared to the previous year by 12 percent for the summer period and 10 percent for the winter period, both of which are higher than the average increase in the market. “Despite this, the German market was not much affected. Turkey’s price-performance ratio was right, despite rising inflation and rising costs in the country,” the report said.
According to TDA’s analysis, hotel prices in Turkey will continue to rise in 2024, but not as sharply as last year. Prices for the summer season in 2024 are 7 percent higher than the same period in 2023, the analysis said, adding that early booking discounts for families played an important role in this.
2024 will be better than 2023
“If there are no negative political and economic developments in our region, 2024 will be better than 2023,” said Dr. Erkan Yagci, President of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation (TÜROFED). Yagci said in a statement: “Despite the earthquake, the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian tension, tourism in Turkey will close the year with a growth of 15 percent compared to last year. Despite all the troubles and difficulties, it is a year that we will close well. It was not an easy year, but the result was good.”
Pointing out that Turkey is implementing a policy that will ensure the spread of tourism to all regions, Yagci said that tourism activity is seen not only in coastal areas but in every region.
“We foresee a growth in the UK market at the beginning of the year. Serious growth was recorded in this market, especially in the Antalya region. Intensive work is being done by the public and private sectors to diversify markets. Looking at the data, 2023 has left 2019 behind. From now on, we will plan the future of tourism in Turkey with reference to 2023 figures. Turkey ranked in the top four of the world tourism league in terms of the number of tourists. Therefore, Turkey is now a tourism country and a tourism brand that has established itself in the world. As long as there are no negative political and economic developments in our region, 2024 will be better than 2023” TÜROFED President said.
