Are bookings up or down this year in Turkey?

[nichola]

Does anyone know are holiday bookings up or down this year in Turkey?

I found one report dated May last year and based on their report the holiday bookings figures already made for 2012 were well under way and while generally up they were down for Turkey specifically.

[Sleuth]

I have read that visitors (brits) to Turkey for 2012 are already 11% down on last year

[usedbustickets]

I think we should consider the rise or fall of holidaymakers to Turkey against the numbers going to all holiday destinations.  One thing I would observe is that Turkey is being increasingly portrayed as an All-Inclusive Holiday destination, and not much else, well certainly as far as the big Tour Operators are playing it!

[Scunner]

But that is the case for the entire World not just Turkey - First Choice now ONLY do all inclusive, that's just one example of how demand is increasing for it. I expect the area to be very quiet this season, worst year for a while. But I still believe that an all inclusive family in the Aries/Orient is better than that same family being in Tenerife - at least there is the potential that they might venture out and spend some notes.

[marina]

I wonder if these reports only take into account the number of people booking package holidays rather than independently.  Maybe more people are doing that now due to cost/more choice etc.  We're a good case in point.  At one time, especially our first few years in Calis I would usually book through Thomson to go to the Oykun, and to be fair we did get some good deals, but now we're confident enough to book flights as soon as they're released, book accommodation and transfer direct.

[sunnyd]

The majority of the holiday bookings and enquiries to Turkey that I have dealt with this year so far have been for all inclusive and to Marmaris. Marmaris is considered,(and proved price wise), to be the cheapest resort, be it all inclusive or otherwise. We try to attract people to the Olu Deniz area instead of Marmaris, but this can normally add up to an extra £100 per person. Flight prices for 2012 have increased, and also now the 'additional extras' which are baggage (20kg depending on the airline), and shared transfers, make a difference to the final cost of a holiday.

[Scunner]

Marmaris is often the first (and often only) Turkish destination for many - it has a lot to answer for. There is something I wonder about Fethiye and Marmaris - a couple of questions I'll never actually find the answer to:

1. How many people who "never go to the same place twice" visit Fethiye/Calis and do.

and

2. How many people visit Marmaris as their first experience of Turkey and never, ever return to Turkey.

The two answers when viewed together can explain Turkey entirely and might actually hold the key to Turkey's future as a holiday destination - but like I said, they are two answers we'll never find...

[cheers]

Spot on Keith!  We have been to Icmeler a few times and doing the coach drop offs put us off straight away.  Did give it a go and went in twice.  Both times lasted about an hour and got the dolmus back.  The tour companies promote it as the best place in Turkey?  
Many of our friends who did fall for it will never now return to Turkey!  They will never know what they are missing [!]

[Toky]

Our first experience of Turkey was indeed Marmaris  . That holiday was enough to keep us away for 10 years!! I just wouldnt even consider a free holiday back to Turkey after that one, until Mr Toky came upon some reviews for Calis Beach. After a torture session of thumb screwing, arm twisting, and threats of divorce, I decided to submit and try again. Best decision ever!! A world apart, are these 2 resorts, even although they are just along the coast from each other.
I imagine others may have experienced the same as me but haven't resorted to such extreme measures to give somewhere else a go. Their loss.
 

[Sleuth]

Yes,our introduction to Turkey was two weeks in Kusadaski in August 1992. Having been lovers of Greece and her islands during the 80`s we hated  it, as it was  too cosmopolitan for us, and vowed never to return to Turkey .Then in 1999 a friend recommended Olu Deniz as a perfect `chill out` destination, so reluctantly we visited it.. the friend was right !! we discovered the people and the beauty of the area etc...we fell in love with it, and the rest, as they say, is history