Coronavirus threat causes small businesses in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to hit rock bottom

It is reported that the number of tourists in the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest shopping centers in the world has declined due to the threat of Coronavirus outbreak. The giant shopping mall has entered its most stagnant period in its trading life.

It is observed that the number of visitors is reduced by half due to the Coronavirus outbreak, which has caused more than 2 thousand deaths in the world. The business owners in the bazaar were quite content at the beginning of the year with the number of visitors coming from the Far East and Middle East mainly to replace those from the western world mainly. However, it is reported that the number of visitors to the Grand Bazaar has decreased so much in the last 10 days due to the outbreak, meaning a drop of almost 60 per cent.

The businesses here used to receive groups of 200 visitors from the Far East until a short while ago whereas now one can hardly see any crowds in the bazaar. It is expressed by business owners that the shops used to stay open until 19: 00 during the winter period, now they close at 17:30.

Meanwhile, it is observed that the recession also boosted shop sales in the Grand Bazaar and over 300 tradesmen have left the mall in recent years. In fact it is reported that the number of shops for sale has increased by 10-fold.