Turkey Sees Sharp Decline in Tourism as Inflation Soars

Turkey is witnessing a significant drop in tourism, leaving many restaurants half-empty during peak season as tourists opt for Greece instead. The soaring inflation in Turkey has led to skyrocketing prices, causing frustration among locals and visitors alike. Restaurant and hotel prices rose by an average of 91% in June from the previous year, surpassing the already high inflation rate of 71.6%.

Kivanc Meric, an executive at the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, believes Turkey has lost its “price advantage.” He told Euronews that he expects up to 150,000 Turks to visit the Greek island of Samos this year, a significant increase from around 40,000 in 2023.

“There’s a huge difference between the service and product quality, as well as prices here and there,” said Murat Yavuz, a retired Turkish banker who frequently visits Greece. He added that inflation has been used as a pretext to hike prices in Turkish restaurants.

Kaplan Ilhan, a chef at a fish restaurant in Kusadasi, reported a 25% decline in business compared to the previous season. “The cost of living is a factor, but rumors on social media about Greece being cheaper also play a big role,” he said.

Baris Tansever, founder of the upscale Sunset Grill & Bar in Istanbul, noted a similar drop in business, stating that “with interest rates at 50% and inflation above 70%, people are in shock.”

On April 1, 2024, Greece introduced visas on arrival for Turkish visitors, allowing them to visit 10 Greek islands with an express visa for up to seven days. This move has resulted in a surge of Turkish tourists to Greece. During the first 10 days of April, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, and Rhodes welcomed 20,690 Turkish tourists, many of whom previously vacationed within Turkey.

The decline in tourism has forced some hotels in resorts like Bodrum to cut prices by up to 50% for the second half of July and the first two weeks of August in an effort to attract visitors.