Antalya, which broke the all-time record in the number of tourists and tourism income last year and reached 16 million 84 thousand, has started 2024 quickly.
The city, which attracts tourists from all over the world and hosts 16 million 84 thousand 737 people in 2023, continues its activity at the beginning of this year.
According to the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism data, 229 thousand 97 tourists visited Antalya in the first month of the year.
Last year, 220 thousand 10 people came to the city in January, and this year there was a 4.13% increase in the number of visitors compared to last year.
Russians ranked first in the number of tourists coming to the city with 57 thousand 366 people. Russia was followed by Germany with 39 thousand 427 tourists, England with 17 thousand 930 tourists and Poland with 9 thousand 121 tourists. Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Iran, Belgium and Kyrgyzstan were the other countries in the top 10.
England and Poland became alternative markets
Hakan Saatcioglu, President of the Professional Hotel Managers Association, said that last year’s record made tourism professionals and all sector stakeholders happy.
Stating that tourism professionals are looking at this year with hope, Saatcioglu said, “We made our contacts for 2024, according to the first information we received, there is a good increase in early reservations. This was an increase that should have happened. There appear to be increases that will please us. All hotels have adjusted our price policy nicely and properly, so we are looking forward to 2024 with great hope.”
Stating that there were positive developments especially in the British and Polish markets last year, Saatcioglu said, “500 thousand British tourists came from England in 2019. Last year, we hosted 1 million 300 thousand British tourists in Antalya. This is a very good increase, which gives us hope. I think this increase will continue in the British market. We expect an increase of approximately 20% in the UK market this year.”
Saatcioglu stated that there was a 35% increase in the Polish market last year and that they expect the increase to continue this year.
Pointing out that there was also an increase in the Russian market, Saatcioglu said, “We still have not reached the figures of 2019 in the Russian market. We hosted 3 million 900 thousand Russian tourists in Antalya in 2019. Last year, 3 million 400 thousand Russian tourists came. We expect more this year.”
“There is incredible potential in Turkiye”
Ali Kizildag, the general manager of a hotel in Belek Tourism Center, also stated that they have passed very serious tests in tourism, but despite this, they have written beautiful stories and achieved great success.
Expressing that they hope this year will be better than last year, Kizildag said:
“As a sector, we will make great efforts to make 2024 better than 2023, without giving up and without losing our determination to fight. There is incredible potential in Turkiye. Our country, our culture, our gastronomy, our people, our hospitality, our nature, everything is suitable for this. The policies implemented are also good. We’re on a very good line.”
Kizildag added that they are taking firm steps forward with successful tourism policies.
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz