A Russian jet fighting in Syria was shot down by Turkish forces last month, leading to a diplomatic row between the two countries and a Kremlin decree banning Russians from holidaying in Turkey.
With the country receiving 2.5 million Russian tourists in 2014, placing it second equal with the UK after Germany’s 5 million tourists, operators are predicting Turkish hoteliers will be keen to hit the ground running in January.
Anatolian Sky managing director Akin Koc said Antalya is the main Russian destination of choice and while it is less popular with the UK market compared with Dalaman and Bodrum, he predicts that could change.
Koc said: “They are all big hotels in Antalya and the hoteliers are going to be quite aggressive in replacing those lost sales with British ones. “I expect British tour operators will get a lot cheaper prices as a result.
The main selling season is January, February and March and no doubt the biggest hoteliers will have to do more reductions in price.” Olympic Holidays commercial director Photis Lambrianides said while Antalya may prove to be a cheap option, the airlines will have to play ball if it is to benefit. He added: “You can have the best deals but there has to be [air] capacity. People will always go for the best prices and deals. The capacity will be made available by the low-cost carriers.
“Hotels can react very quickly but it is not a case of reducing prices; it is a case of offering early- booking discounts.” Kirker Holidays joint managing director Ted Wake agreed value-added deals needed to be made available almost immediately, adding: “The hoteliers need to start selling beds and if they leave it until March, it is too late.”
He also expected the Russian holiday ban to impact the cruise market, adding: “That doesn’t affect the hotels so much but it does have a major impact on the ground handlers, local guides and restaurants.”
However, Classic Collection head of marketing Vanda Bauer said no amount of discounting will drive business to a destination many Brits consider unsafe. “To be honest there are discounts there and nobody’s going anyway. People are just not booking Turkey,” she added.
