A Seaside View: Forecast for the tourist season

Marmaris is preparing for its summer tourism season, but this year is looking less favorable as a result of the global crisis and what some claim to be a lack of reaction from Turkish government against to the effects of the financial problems.

Tourism investors have also complained about the Tourism Ministry’s 50 percent cutback on the Turkish promotional budget.

Many are not confident in Prime Minister Erdoğan’s words that "Turkey may create opportunities to benefit from the global crisis." Local tour agencies think that if there is a financial crisis, tourism will be the first sector to be affected. The low number of early hotel bookings is the primary sign for a desperate summer season. The German and Holland markets started early bookings in January. These countries are typically among Turkey’s main tourism markets, but this year's sales show a 15 percent decrease in Germans’ reservations when compared to 2008 early sales. Tour operators have lost 20 percent of southern Aegean resort sales from the Dutch.

The yacht industry is also suffering from the crisis. The expectations for the 2009 season are far from the 2008 reservations. Many individual yacht owners, who cannot compensate the costs, have already put their boats up for sale. They believe most of the yachts will not be able to get blue voyage reservations this summer.

In addition to the global crisis, the rise in diplomatic tension between Turkey and Israel has directly impacted Aegean and Mediterranean resorts. The three main resorts for Israeli tourists, Antalya, Marmaris and Bodrum are now silently waiting. The usual advance payments to Turkish hotels have not been paid by the Israeli tour operators for the forthcoming season. And the frequent cruise ship visits to Marmaris Port have stopped, as have the Israeli charter flights to Antalya. This means a big drop on the early season income for the hotels, yachting companies, and the air and sea ports.

Russia, Turkey’s recently growing market, has experienced the most economic damage. Russian companies have not started to sell holiday packages. But it is easy to understand the operators’ reports of a 30 percent. This means a big loss for all-inclusive hotels this year.

The only hopeful expectation is from the British market. Early sales show a 15 percent increase, which will be the only hope for the Aegean resorts. The British prove that they will not give up vacationing, despite the widespread crisis. The Aegean tour operators are now trying to keep more charter aircrafts for their companies. Ali Kırlı, the manager of a local tour company and the second president of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association, or Türsab, said that they started early bookings in January and so far there has been a rise in reservations compared to the same period the last year. "The British do not want to give up summer holidays. Instead of expensive Spain, this year they will favor Turkey, which they can get at reasonable prices. The seats on our flights will be fully occupied soon, so we are in need of new planes," said Kırlı.

Karen Hollier, the contracting manager of Thomson, a British tour company, confirmed the Brits’ increase in interest in Turkey this year. "It will be a good season for Turkey, especially for Marmaris on the terms of British visitors." Hollier said. "There will be many newcomers to Turkey. This year, because of the rising cost of Spain, they will be ready to choose Turkey."