ALTHOUGH the occupancy rate increased for the hospitality industry at the end of 2017, there had been no significant increase in prices. Hotel Association of Turkey (TUROB) has announced that Turkey had the highest increase rate of 18 percent occupancy in hotels all over Europe. In contrast, Turkey was subject to the biggest loss with 12.4% decrease and 66.8 Euro in average.

The President of TUROB, Timur Bayındır said that they expect an increase in the number of tourists in 2018 however, “we can not expect the upward trend in prices to be so rapidly. We need to focus on increasing prices”.

According to STR’s(the research and analysis company worldwide) data of 2017, Turkey’s hotel occupancy rate reached 60.2% with an increase of 18% all over the country, with a 26% increase in Istanbul in total 62.6%, and with an 11.5% increase reached 59.8% in Antalya. The ADR, average daily rate of rooms around Turkey in 2017 decreased by 12% and reached 66.8 Euro, with 14%decrease in Istanbul reached 76.3 Euro and with a 5.2% decrease in Antalya reached 74.6 Euro. The average revenue per room over the total amount of rooms have reached 40.2 Euros with an increase of 3.3%.

Istanbul increased by 8.4% and reached 47,7 Euros and Antalya reached 44.6 Euros by a 5.4% increase.

We are hopeful for 2018 The

Turob President Timur Bayindir pointed out that the decrease on prices has a negative effect on Turkish tourism revenue and continued: Although we have not reached the desired ranges in prices yet, we can say that we are hopeful for 2018 and the upcoming years. Impressions we get from big international fairs raise hopes for 2018. The signs we receive from the European market, which is our main market, basically the backbone of Turkish tourism, are pleasing.

Therefore, a rising trend will begin in 2018. We could catch a double-digit increase in the number of tourists. However, it would be wrong to expect the upward trend in prices to happen rapidly. We have to figure out how we can increase our prices faster without losing our existing customers.