Tourism in Turkey: Russians who buy homes from Antalya become competitors to hotels

Professionals in tourism sector note that the homes purchased by Russians in Antalya, which is one of the leading countries sending the most tourists to Turkey, has started to challenge the accommodation sector.

While the tourism sector, which meets the majority of Turkey’s foreign exchange needs, wants to reach the target of 58 billion dollars in revenue and 60 million tourists by 2023, the figures in the first 6 months of the year have started to make the sector smile.

However, according to statements by some professionals, the houses purchased by Russians in Antalya, one of the leading countries sending the most tourists to Turkey, are starting to rival the accommodation sector.

HIGH NUMBER OF TOURISTS FROM RUSSIA DOES NOT REFLECT IN BUSINESS OF HOTELS

A professional said that there was an influx of tourists to Antalya, but this was not reflected in the accommodation facilities. Noting that Russians who have taken up residence in Antalya have also been added to countries such as Egypt, Spain and Greece, which are Turkey’s competitors in tourism, he noted following: “Russians who buy housing from Antalya have become competitors to hotels. Last year, 22 thousand houses in Antalya were sold to Russians and foreigners. Many of these who buy houses from Antalya host their spouses, friends, relatives in these houses, to make holidays and earn money. According to official data, Russians are in the first place at the beginning of the largest number of tourists coming to Antalya, but this number is not reflected in hotels. Russian tourists have been reflected in shopkeepers and shopping malls, of course, this is gratifying, but there are problems in hotels.”