Crisis hits football tourism in Antalya
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Aralık 19, 2008 00:00
ISTANBUL - Antalya will probably maintain its position among the most preferred spots for football teams’ midseason camps, but there might be a slight decrease in the number of visitors this winter due to the global economic crisis, daily Star reported.
During last year’s midseason period during January and February, Antalya attracted 1,300 football teams for midseason training camps.
This year Antalya will welcome about 1,000 teams, which is the consequence of rising hotel prices in the region. WOW Hotels’ Sports Manager, Süreyya Ertuğrul, admits that there will be a decrease in teams to camp in Antalya.
Russian teams affected
"The economic crisis and Turkish Cup fixtures in January have hit football tourism," he said. "I believe teams will take training camps once or twice a year instead of three times."
Ertuğrul added that the Russian and formerly Soviet Union countries are the most affected by it.
German teams are leading the rush to Antalya as Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen, FC Cologne and Karlsruhe are only a few teams to visit the southern Turkish city.
Russian League champion Rubin Kazan, as well as fellow Russian Spartak Moscow, Ukraine’s Metalist Kharkiv, Rapid Vienna of Austria and Dutch side Feyenoord are some of the European teams will visit Antalya.
There are also teams from Japan, China, South Korea, Kenya and Brazil, which have already made their reservations at hotels in the city.
Fewer Turkish teams
However, unlike previous years, Turkish teams’ trips to Antalya will not be that frequent this season. Due to the short break in the Turkcell Super League, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş will not head south, but other championship contenders Galatasaray and Trabzonspor will hold short training camps in Antalya.
This year Antalya will welcome about 1,000 teams, which is the consequence of rising hotel prices in the region. WOW Hotels’ Sports Manager, Süreyya Ertuğrul, admits that there will be a decrease in teams to camp in Antalya.
Russian teams affected
"The economic crisis and Turkish Cup fixtures in January have hit football tourism," he said. "I believe teams will take training camps once or twice a year instead of three times."
Ertuğrul added that the Russian and formerly Soviet Union countries are the most affected by it.
German teams are leading the rush to Antalya as Werder Bremen, Bayer Leverkusen, FC Cologne and Karlsruhe are only a few teams to visit the southern Turkish city.
Russian League champion Rubin Kazan, as well as fellow Russian Spartak Moscow, Ukraine’s Metalist Kharkiv, Rapid Vienna of Austria and Dutch side Feyenoord are some of the European teams will visit Antalya.
There are also teams from Japan, China, South Korea, Kenya and Brazil, which have already made their reservations at hotels in the city.
Fewer Turkish teams
However, unlike previous years, Turkish teams’ trips to Antalya will not be that frequent this season. Due to the short break in the Turkcell Super League, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş will not head south, but other championship contenders Galatasaray and Trabzonspor will hold short training camps in Antalya.