500 flights redirect from Turkey to Spain

[nichola]

In a local Turkish paper it says that TUI and Thomas Cook have changed the destination of 500 flights originally intended for Turkey this summer to Spain.

[Ray1951]

Tourism in Turkey was up last year and I would envisage the same this year.  People are struggling in the UK and they want value for money IF they can afford a holiday. People are avoiding countries who have the Euro, like Spain but good luck to them.  Turkey is excellent value.

[johnboy1967]

The thing is that both Spain and Greece have slashed the prices of there holidays to get people over and spending their cash.......
And flights here have seen a big increase in prices lately, making an AI trip to spain better value....

[amca]

I spend too much time in Turkey to be considered a tourist and so am not the best judge of the reasons why Turkey may be losing tourist business.
I believe that flight prices have increased.
I believe that tourist items have increased.(Alcohol, restaurants)
I believe that the duration and schedule of flights can be disincentives.

I spent a winter week in Costa Del Sol; half board including drinks with meals, 4 star, good flight times and more to choose from, quick, cheap and easy public transport to and from airport, alcohol and soft drinks not much more than Fethiye and possibly cheaper than Olu Deniz.
Not a like for like comparison, for sure, but I can understand why some of Turkey's potential customers may be choosing Spain.

[amca]

...... and it is hard to find a less hospitable airport than Dalaman.

[pookie]

Once upon a time....Turkey was a cheap destination, then it became 'resonable value', now I'm afraid it can't compete in the value for money stakes.   A lot of people in the UK are hurting, and sadly are having to cut back on the luxuries of life ie: holidays.  When pennies matter - people will go where they can still enjoy decent priced meals, drinks and trips out.   At generally, that aint turkey at the moment

[legless]

TC are too expensive when flying to Turkey over the years they have got greedier and greedier

Ron

[amca]

quote:Originally posted by pookie

Once upon a time....Turkey was a cheap destination, then it became 'resonable value', ....

I have used those exact same words over the last few years.
It may still be reasonable, .......I am not sure...... but that has to be weighed against some of the other factors I mentioned above.

[Scunner]

I think people staying in the UK for their 2012 hols may be the biggest cause of this. I am amazed by the number of people I know who have booked the Isle of Wight, Cornwall, Great Yarmouth etc. for this year.

I am also learning that there are more places to visit than Turkey - so now can compare what's what better. For this year, 7 days seafront hotel (inc breakfast) - decent 3/4 star standard with sea view - Fethiye £288, Portugal £676. Very comparable hotels and locations. No comparison, around £400 cheaper for Turkey. Sadly, the flights for us are something like £800 more from here to Dalaman than here to Faro. So Portugal it will be this year and we are just four bums on seats each night - but if there are ten families like us going elsewhere then that is 40 bums on seats - equivalent perhaps a whole empty restaurant on Calis prom - and I bet (sadly) it's more than 10 families.

Last year we went to Spain and found it to be pretty much the same for eating out - one thing they do well in both countries is cater for all budgets - like Turkey, we found you could eat in beautiful restaurants but also get well fed indeed for a few pounds. We also found the locals very friendly, like Turkey.

We can't stay away from Turkey, just like so many members on here - but we don't need to choose it and that, I fear, might be the biggest problem the Turkish resorts will face in the coming years. To love Turkey, obvious as it sounds, you need to go there - and I do wonder if people are going to miss the opportunity to fall under the spell, by choosing Spain or somewhere else instead. The truth is, it is us idiots who fell in love with the place that pay the ridiculous flight costs year after year. People not coming means no "year after year" types being created to keep the numbers up. Nobody wants Calis and area to have a great season more than me and I do hope it happens.

[KKOB]

quote:Originally posted by Scunner

We can't stay away from Turkey,

Has the ban been lifted now then ?