Turkey tourism slumps 10% after attacks

Turkey tourism slumps 10% after attacks

The number of foreign visitors going to Turkey fell 10 per cent in February, the biggest drop in a decade, amid security concerns for a country feeling the spillover effects from the war in Syria.

Turkey has been hit by a spate a bomb attacks this year, including two in Istanbul – its biggest city and traditional tourist draw – blamed on Islamic State. In January a suicide bomber blew himself up in the city’s historic heart, killing 12 German tourists.

Tourist traffic could drop further after another suicide bomber blew himself up on Istanbul’s most popular shopping thoroughfare this month, killing three Israeli tourists and an Iranian. Israel has advised its citizens visiting Turkey to leave “as soon as possible”, predicting possible follow-up attacks.

Tourism fell 10.32 per cent year-on-year in February, to 1.24 million people, tourism ministry data showed on Tuesday, the biggest drop since October 2006.

The industry is also suffering from a chill in relations with Russia, a major source of tourists to Turkey, with Russian visitors down by more than half during the month.

Turkey shot down a Russian jet over Syria last year, prompting President Vladimir Putin to impose economic sanctions on Turkey, including a ban on charter flights.

Russians have also been hit by an economic crisis that has weakened their rouble currency, driving up the cost of foreign holidays.

Economists have forecast that Turkey’s tourism revenue will drop by a quarter this year, costing the country around $US8 billion ($A10.61 billion).

Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek, the minister in charge of economic matters, said that the dent in tourist numbers would be short-lived, pointing out that Turkey is the sixth most visited country in the world.

Simsek said the economy grew by 4 per cent or a little more in 2015, close to the 3.9 per cent that economists are expecting when Turkey releases 2015 GDP data this week. GDP grew 2.9 per cent in 2014.

Separately, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a meeting of his AK Party that the economy would perform better this year than it did in 2015.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]