Antalya, one of the world’s leading holiday destinations, is enjoying another busy summer as tourism reaches its peak. More than 6.5 million foreign visitors have arrived in the city so far this year, while hotels are operating at occupancy levels of between 90 and 100 percent.
Industry representatives say booking trends remain similar to last year, giving confidence that the tourism season will continue strongly into the autumn months.
Russia, Germany and the UK Remain the Biggest Markets
The Mediterranean resort continues to attract visitors from all over the world. Russia remains Antalya’s largest international market, followed by Germany and the United Kingdom. Poland, the Netherlands and Ukraine also rank among the city’s most important source markets.
Tourism professionals note that visitor numbers from Ukraine have increased compared with last year, providing additional support for the sector.
Early Bookings Slowed but Summer Demand Recovered
Hakan Saatçioğlu, President of the Professional Hotel Managers Association, said geopolitical tensions following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran affected the early booking period.
However, he explained that demand picked up significantly from July onward, helping the tourism industry regain momentum during the busiest part of the summer.
According to Saatçioğlu, Antalya welcomed 6.27 million foreign visitors during the first six months of last year, compared with 5.7 million during the same period this year. By July 20, however, total foreign arrivals had already exceeded 6.5 million.
He expects the figure to approach 8 million by the end of July, although overall visitor numbers are still running slightly behind last year’s record pace.
Hotels Are Nearly Full
Hotels across Antalya are currently enjoying one of the strongest periods of the year.
Occupancy rates have climbed to between 90 and 100 percent, reflecting the high demand for summer holidays on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast.
Domestic tourism has also strengthened since schools closed for the summer vacation, adding to the already strong international demand.
Reservations Stay Strong Through Autumn
Looking ahead, tourism professionals remain optimistic.
Reservations from both foreign and domestic travelers are following almost exactly the same pattern as last year, particularly for July and August. Bookings are already extending through November, suggesting that the season could once again last well beyond the traditional summer months.
COP31 Could Extend the Season Even Further
Saatçioğlu believes this year’s tourism season may continue longer than usual.
The COP31 conference, scheduled to run until late November in Antalya, is expected to generate significant demand for accommodation, particularly in Kaleiçi, the city center, Lara and Belek.
As conference visitors fill hotels in these areas, many leisure travelers are expected to choose popular resort destinations such as Manavgat and Kemer instead.
With international conferences, strong advance bookings and continued holiday demand, Antalya’s tourism industry appears well positioned for another extended and successful season.
