In 2025, the city of Antalya, located on the Mediterranean coast, faced an unexpectedly weak tourist season. Even after price reductions in hotels, the number of tourists remains low, while other countries like Spain, Greece, and Egypt are experiencing a significant influx of tourists. This was reported by the publication 'Glavkom', citing Hasret Gazetesi.
The Turkish tourism expert Hamit Kuk expressed serious concerns about the situation. 'It is July now, when hotels should be completely booked, but we have an occupancy rate of 70-80%,'he noted, emphasizing the criticality of the situation. Even achieving the figures of 2024, which is usually considered a success, has raised doubts in this context.
Problems in Different Areas
The problem has intensified in some specific regions. While Kundu and Belek somewhat sustained high occupancy due to price reductions, in Alanya and Kemer, despite decreasing holiday costs, there are still vacant spots. The expert highlighted a troubling trend: Turkey is losing its appeal to middle-class tourists.
'Most Turkish tourists have low income. They can no longer spend money, and it seems we have hit the lowest point in tourism', Kuk concluded, painting a rather grim picture of the future tourist season in Turkey.
In 2025, the tourist season in Antalya turned out to be challenging, with a significant decrease in tourist flow compared to other popular destinations. Experts express serious concerns about the future of tourism in Turkey, which may lose its appeal to visitors with average income.