Santorini tremors result in positive trends for Türkiye’s Aegean coasts

Turkish tourism professionals remarked on a significant increase in early bookings for Türkiye’s Aegean coast, as tourists who previously opted for Greece are now shifting their holiday plans toward Turkish resorts such as Antalya and Marmaris due to seismic activity in Santorini.

According to Turkish daily, recent seismic disturbances in the Aegean Sea have heavily impacted tourism in a region typically visited by millions annually. Early reservation cancellations in Santorini and the Yamurgi islands, both heavily dependent on tourism, have redirected travelers toward Türkiye.

Efforts by the Greek government to mitigate the tourism sector’s losses seem to acknowledge that Türkiye is well-positioned to attract tourists initially planning visits to Greek islands. Travelers reconsidering their holiday plans due to recent seismic activities are choosing nearby Turkish destinations instead, significantly boosting early bookings in Türkiye’s coastal resorts.

Turkish shores now favored over Greek islands

Mehmet Isler, vice president of the Turkish Hoteliers Federation, highlighted Türkiye’s tourism opportunity, noting that tourists are redirecting their bookings from Greek islands toward destinations such as Egypt, with a notable increase toward popular Turkish resorts like Antalya, Fethiye, Marmaris, and Bodrum.

“Attracting this new tourist profile, who previously hadn’t considered Türkiye, is a fortunate development for our target market,” he added.

Orhan Belge, head of the Cesme Tourist Hoteliers and Operators Association, emphasized the visible shift toward Türkiye, stating, “The rise in early reservations clearly indicates tourists are turning from Greece to Türkiye.”

While acknowledging the sensitivity of the situation, Belge noted the shift was predictable, and the tourism industry is already experiencing increased activity.