Despite regular reports that Vladimir Putin’s bloody war in Ukraine is sending the country into economic meltdown, Turkey is expecting millions of Russian tourists to visit its hotels and resorts this summer. Massive inflation and stuttering national finances are not, apparently, enough to stop droves of Moscovites hitting the beaches of Antalya, according to Hamit Kuk, a leading advisor for the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies.
Kuk told the Express the Mediterranean hotspot has been reliant on Russian customers for many years with international sanctions and fraying relations between the two nations doing little to stem the flow of holidaymakers during the summer months. He even revealed that, although Brits adore his country, UK visitors seriously lag behind tourists from Russia.
“Among tourists visiting Turkey, the British are in third place after Russians and Germans,” he told the Express.
“Last year, 6.7 million tourists came from Russia, German tourist numbers were 6.6 million and 4.4 million from the United Kingdom.”
Kuk pointed out that these figures were delivered in a summer when rival destinations turned up the heat on Turkey.
Greece, for example, used a special visa scheme to tempt domestic tourists across the border. There were reports of empty resorts as locals took advantage and headed abroad to avoid spiraling inflation.
This year, Kuk expects more of the same. Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt are already applying pressure by offering budget deals to holidaymakers.
And he reckons Balkan countries like Bosnia and Albania could also try and grab a slice of the market, while at the top-end Italy, Spain and Dubai offer stiff competition.
Nevertheless, he is expecting more visitors in 2025.
“We may have a hard time but I expect a 5% or more increase in all markets,” he added.
“There is no problem in reaching more tourist numbers for Turkish tourism.
“The problem here is what kind of a picture we will encounter in profitability at the end of the year.”
Traditionally Turkey has been an affordable alternative to Mediterranean hotspots like Spain and Italy.
However, a deteriorating economy during Tayyip Recep Erdogan’s 20-year reign as leader of the AKP Party has seen inflation eat away at hotel chains’ margins.
But Kuk is backing his nation to triumph regardless of its loss of the cost-base advantage it had over competing destinations.
“The British can find everything they are looking for in Spain and Greece in Turkey,” he said.
“Despite everything, the British will prefer Turkey this year. Tourism professionals here believe in this very much.
“The quality of the hotels, the delicious food and Turkish hospitality are the factors that convince the British to go.”