Hotel bookings skyrocket as Türkiye declares 9-day Eid al-Fitr holiday

Hotel reservations across Türkiye jumped by nearly 10% in a single day following the government’s decision to extend the Ramadan Bayram, also known as the Eid al-Fitr holiday, to nine days, Turkish media reported, while sector representatives expect hotel occupancy rates, currently around 85%, to reach full capacity.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Thursday that Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated from March 30 to April 1. The public holiday will begin on Saturday, Mar. 29 (the day of arife, or the eve of Eid) and end on Sunday, April 6. Schools will be closed from Friday, March 28, and will reopen on Monday, April 7.

According to Turkish news outlet bigpara.hurriyet.com.tr, tourism professionals noted that national occupancy levels are already high. They emphasized that holiday travel is being staggered and added that last-minute bookings may still be available in some regions.

Kaan Kavaloglu, president of the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (AKTOB), said the holiday extension had a positive impact on the tourism sector. “Before the nine-day break was announced, most reservations were for just two to three nights. Now we’re starting to receive bookings for four to five nights,” he said.

“Turks living in Europe are combining their Eid break with the Easter holiday,” Kavaloglu added. “Those coming from abroad are making the longest bookings.”

Coastal and thermal hotspots

Mehmet Isler, president of the Aegean Touristic Enterprises and Accommodations Association (ETIK), said accommodation prices range from 2,000 Turkish lira to 15,000 lira per night, offering options for all budgets.

With the extended holiday, Isler said the tourism season has effectively started early. “The majority of holidaymakers are domestic tourists, but in destinations like Antalya, Bodrum, Didim, and Marmaris, we’re also seeing significant interest from foreign visitors,” he said.

“Thermal resorts and coastal hotels are seeing the most demand. There’s strong interest in Antalya, Fethiye, Marmaris, Bodrum, Didim, Cesme, and Foca. Additionally, Afyon, Denizli, and Cappadocia are popular as well.”

Teyfik Olmez, president of the Cappadocia Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (KAPTID), said the region will experience a surge in both domestic and international tourists. “We expect around 80% occupancy in Cappadocia during the holiday,” he said.