Tourexpi
Turkish tourism authorities estimate that Russian
tourists are expected to surpass the 6 million recorded last year in 2024.
Türkiye has become the most popular vacation
destination for Russians, particularly since the early 2000s, with millions of
Russian tourists visiting the country each year. They mostly visit the cities
of Antalya, Izmir, and Istanbul.
Türkiye manages to outperform its competitors due
to its climate, nature, rich cuisine, developed infrastructure, and
high-quality service sector, as well as its ease of transportation via frequent
flights by domestic airlines such as Turkish Airlines.
Lisav Travel Manager Bahattin Abi told Anadolu at
the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition 2024 that Türkiye hosted
approximately 6 million Russian tourists last year, which he believes to
surpass in 2024.
Abi said Russia is a “huge market” and that the
“opening of new airport has a huge impact on transit flights.”
‘Authorities say 2024 to be year of Alanya’
Mehmet Dahaoglu, manager at the Alanya Tourism
Promotion Foundation, said Alanya is a well-known destination that has grown in
popularity following the Russian-Ukrainian War.
The most important reason international tourists
choose Alanya is its safety, Dahaoglu said.
"We started to receive more tourists after
last year tourists happily returned to their country and explained to people
about the city," he said, adding that, according to authorities’
estimates, "2024 will be the year of Alanya."
He mentioned that transportation is an important
factor, as flights have been impacted by Russia's sanctions, and they are
looking for solutions to increase capacity.
Dahaoglu emphasized that tourism is based on a
delicate balance, saying: "One of the main reasons why people prefer
Alanya is that it is a safe harbor and a city of peace. In fact, everywhere in
Türkiye is successful in this regard, as indeed the country manages the price
balance and quality better than many countries."
Türkiye remains affordable holiday destination
Dahaoglu said the Russia-Ukrainian war has harmed
consumer budgets, but the Turkish tourism sector did not compromise on quality,
causing prices to rise.
Despite these developments, he emphasized that
Türkiye remains an affordable holiday destination for Russians.
“I think we will exceed the figure of 6 million
Russian tourists,” he said.
Russian tourists love Türkiye
A Russian visitor to the exhibition Veronika said
they frequently visit Türkiye as they enjoy the country's ease of
transportation, which allows them to simply board a plane and visit.
Another Russian Vlada said Türkiye is “undoubtedly”
a beautiful country, and they enjoy Turkish cuisine quite a lot.
“Türkiye is a destination that appeals to everyone,
as it offers historical vacations as well with its many historical sites, as
well as vacations on beaches on the southern coastline," they said.
Image
Credit: © AA
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