Turkey’s cheap travel reputation is being undone by high costs
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Overall tourism arrivals fell 3.6 per cent year over year in May, 4 per cent in June and another 0.3 per cent in July, according to data from Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Ministry.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Turkey's reputation as a cheap travel destination is fading due to rising costs and a government policy that keeps the lira's exchange rate stronger against inflation.
- Tourism arrivals have declined, with visitors choosing more affordable alternatives like Slovenia and Tunisia.
- Despite fewer tourists, spending per visitor has increased, but rising costs and geopolitical issues like the Iran war challenge the tourism industry.
AI generated
TURKEY – In recent summers, Turkey became a go-to travel destination for Britain-based Donna and Dave Needham, who took advantage of the country’s reputation as an affordable getaway on Europe’s doorstep.
On a trip to Turkey’s Mediterranean coast this summer, however, they said they experienced a “massive” price difference compared with years past. They were priced out of the resort they’d previously visited and noticed their usual vacation activities had become much more expensive. A 15-minute jet-ski ride, for instance, had jumped to £90 from £20 in 2025.
