The latest data on tourism in Turkey reveals the most severe drop in numbers since 1994. The number of tourists dropped by 41% in June, compared to June 2015, says the Turkish Ministry of Tourism.
The latest data on tourism in Turkey reveals the most severe drop in numbers since 1994. Since the beginning of the year, official medical tourism figures have not been published, as it is expected that medical tourism is suffering as much as or even more than holiday tourism.
The decrease of 40% in tourism in June is the biggest fall in the number of tourists for at least 20 years. The number of foreign tourists in Turkey has decreased due to the tension with Russia and a series of deadly attacks in the country, including in Istanbul. Although relations with Russia have improved so that Russians can now legally go to Turkey, there is no early indication of Russians returning to Turkey.
The country was subject to a failed coup in July 15 that will hit tourism in Turkey even more. The Turkish Foreign Office warns all tourists to take extreme care, particularly in public places in Ankara and Istanbul. With a new state of emergency, tourists must always carry valid identification documents and expect curfews that can be imposed at short notice.
The number of tourists dropped by 40.86% in June, compared to June 2015, says the Turkish Ministry of Tourism. The previous record for a decline was in May, with a fall of 34.7% in the number of tourists compared to May 2015. Figures for July are expected to be far worse. In the first half of 2016, the number of Russian tourists in Turkey declined sharply by 87%, according to Turkish statistics.
Many tour operators have limited or cancelled their offer of holidays in the country. Hoteliers on the Turkish Riviera despair at the decline in visitor numbers and many are expected to close down. Several countries publish official warnings that effectively stop their citizens from travelling to Turkey. The good news is that Iran has lifted its ban.
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