Sharp hike in Antalya hotel occupancy rates in November amid plunge across country

ISTANBUL

While hotel occupancy rates continued to decline in November across Turkey, especially in Istanbul, only Antalya hotels saw a sharp increase, thanks to the G-20 Summit as well as several local and international events, according to a report by the Turkish Touristic Hotels and Investors Assocation (TUROB). 

The hotel occupancy rates declined by 7.6 percent to 56.3 percent in November across Turkey compared to the same month of 2014, according to TUROB statement, which is based on STR Global data. 

While Istanbul’s hotel occupancy rates declined by 12 percent in November compared to November 2014, Antalya rates increased by 13 percent to 56.2 percent, thanks to the G-20 Summit and other big events, even with a drop in the number of Russian tourists. 

Antalya’s hotel occupancy rates in general, however, decreased from 63.1 percent in the first 11 months of 2014 to 61.4 percent over this year, according to the statement. The revenue-per-room (RevPAR) increased to 69.6 euros in the first 11 months of the year from 60.4 euros in the same period of 2014. 

The RevPAR decreased by 19 percent to 59.2 euros in Istanbul in November compared to the same month of 2014. 

The hotel occupancy rates across Turkey declined by 0.2 percent to 62.9 percent in the first 11 months of the year compared to the same period of 2014. 

Turkish tourism sector players, expecting a continued decline in the number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey in 2016 unless the current diplomatic crisis between the two countries is resolved, will launch a promotional campaign in Europe under the leadership of the Tourism Ministry to overcome its potential losses, according to leading sector representatives. The sector will also focus on both China’s and India’s markets in the medium-term.