Turks economizing on New Year celebration
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Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 31, 2008 00:00
ISTANBUL - Turks have opted to welcome the New Year at home due to the crisis. Restaurant and hotel reservations and bookings for trips abroad that are all usually done weeks ahead have been shelved.
While hotels and restaurants cannot attract customers even sticking to 2007 prices, travel agencies are experiencing a 30 percent decrease in sales in foreign holiday packages.
Serhat Gür, owner of Mori Restaurants, said they have decreased prices from YTL 185 per person to YTL 125, but demand is still pretty low. "Although we serve Japanese cuisine at the Mori restaurants, we are planning different events for New Year’s Eve.
The prices being charged by Chocolate Restaurants is no different. Reşat Karakuş, one of the partners of Chocolate Restaurants, said, "Last year, we ran out of tables, but people have still not made reservations despite the arrival of New Year’s Eve." Karakuş said they had kept prices at YTL 125, the same as the previous year. "We have six restaurants and it is still possible to make reservations. The crisis has affected the high-income group, too. Everybody is planning house parties."
Alongside the crisis, the matter of Kurban Bayram, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, being so close to New Year’s Eve this year has also affected sales at travel agencies. Approximately 7,000 to 8,000 people are expected to travel abroad for New Year’s Eve holidays this year while the number was 10,000 last year.
Ali Onaran, board chairman of Pronto Tour, said although they had not canceled any of their tours, their sales were down by 20 to 30 percent. "Everybody is panicking due to the uncertainty," said Onaran. He said they were disappointed at sales for New Year’s Eve as they were sending 600 customers abroad this year with their cheapest tour package of 199 euros.
Özgü Alnıtemiz, general director for Hey Travel, cited three reasons for the decrease in business. "First, we had a long holiday for the Kurban Bayram a short time ago. Second, morale is down due to the economic crisis. Third, the rise in foreign currency rates has made customers anxious."
Serhat Gür, owner of Mori Restaurants, said they have decreased prices from YTL 185 per person to YTL 125, but demand is still pretty low. "Although we serve Japanese cuisine at the Mori restaurants, we are planning different events for New Year’s Eve.
The prices being charged by Chocolate Restaurants is no different. Reşat Karakuş, one of the partners of Chocolate Restaurants, said, "Last year, we ran out of tables, but people have still not made reservations despite the arrival of New Year’s Eve." Karakuş said they had kept prices at YTL 125, the same as the previous year. "We have six restaurants and it is still possible to make reservations. The crisis has affected the high-income group, too. Everybody is planning house parties."
Alongside the crisis, the matter of Kurban Bayram, or the Feast of the Sacrifice, being so close to New Year’s Eve this year has also affected sales at travel agencies. Approximately 7,000 to 8,000 people are expected to travel abroad for New Year’s Eve holidays this year while the number was 10,000 last year.
Ali Onaran, board chairman of Pronto Tour, said although they had not canceled any of their tours, their sales were down by 20 to 30 percent. "Everybody is panicking due to the uncertainty," said Onaran. He said they were disappointed at sales for New Year’s Eve as they were sending 600 customers abroad this year with their cheapest tour package of 199 euros.
Özgü Alnıtemiz, general director for Hey Travel, cited three reasons for the decrease in business. "First, we had a long holiday for the Kurban Bayram a short time ago. Second, morale is down due to the economic crisis. Third, the rise in foreign currency rates has made customers anxious."