Turkey’s cultural and financial hub Istanbul ranked third in Europe among the most-visited cities this year, while coming in twelfth place in the world, according to a survey conducted by the London-based research and statistics firm Euromonitor International.
Stressing that hotel occupancy rates have almost reached an all-time high, tourism professionals said the rates hit 95 percent for New Year’s Eve. Having lived through one of the most challenging periods of its history in 2016 and 2017 due to the coup attempt and multiple terrorist attacks, Istanbul’s hotels have taken their share of the positive climate in tourism this year. Hosting tourists mostly from Middle East, Iran and Russia for the past two years, Turkey’s most populous city has become the new favorite destination of European tourists this year.
Diversity in the tourism profile raised hotel occupancy rates to around 75 percent in November, and this figure is expected to exceed 80 percent by the end of the year. The increase in the occupancy rates raised hotel fees over $80 in four-star hotels, $100 in five-star hotels and $200 in the luxury hotels.
Having completed their final preparations for New Year’s Eve, Istanbul’s hotels expect an occupancy rate of 95 percent. Meanwhile, tourism representatives noted that hotels in Istanbul caught up with 2014 and 2015 figures in occupancy.
Istanbul Tourism Association (ISTTA) Chairman İbrahim Halil Korkmaz said Istanbul has once again become the favorite destination in the world, adding that hotel occupancy rates in the city exceeded 80 percent. Pointing out that hotels in the city caught up with the 2014 and 2015 figures in occupancy but not in fees, Korkmaz suggested that hotels must have some faith and get bolder.
Movenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn General Manager Ahmet Arslan said the hotels must act boldly on fees. “The sector is not bold in terms of increasing prices,” Arslan added. “If you raise the fee and another hotel operating with the same classifications fails to achieve the occupancy rate, then prices fall in panic, which affects other hotels.”
Noting that hotels achieved 75-80 percent occupancy, Arslan said they would start welcoming New Year’s groups as of Dec. 20, which corresponds to school break in Saudi Arabia. “The call for a boycott in Saudi Arabia has not made a difference. Our hotel is still in high demand. Our occupancy rate will exceed 95 percent after Dec. 20,” he added.
