Over 1 million German tourists expected in Antalya in fall 2024
The old town and the historic port in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya, Türkiye, June 18, 2020. (Reuters Photo)
Tourism professionals in Antalya report a significant surge in reservations from Germany for September and October.
With over 1 million German tourists expected to visit during these two months, experts point to lower travel prices as a key driver of this increase.
Germany, Antalya’s second-largest tourism market, has seen its strongest growth in 2023, leading to a notable autumn boost.
According to Kaan Kavaloglu, Chairman of the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers Association (AKTOB), “In September and October, more than 1 million Germans are expected to choose Antalya as their holiday destination.”
He added that, in October, German tourist numbers are expected to surpass those of Russians, Antalya’s largest market.
Tourism experts predict strong November
While tourism professionals are optimistic about November, the recent bankruptcy of Germany’s third-largest tour operator, FTI Group, may impact future bookings.
“FTI Group was highly concentrated on Antalya, and we expect some challenges during the winter months,” Kavaloglu explained.
However, he still forecasts over 400,000 tourists for November, following last year’s strong performance.
Besides November’s outlook, Kavaloglu expects more than 1.5 million tourists to visit Antalya between November and March, highlighting the continued importance of off-season travel for the region.
Germans expected to outnumber Russian tourists in October
Hamit Kuk, General Manager of Passo Turizm and Chief Advisor to the President of the Turkish Travel Agencies Association (TURSAB), also emphasized the strong autumn demand from Germany.
“While summer sales in July and August were slow, we had already started receiving reservations from Germany for September and October. The lower off-season prices have significantly boosted demand,” Kuk stated.
Kuk added that last-minute bookings from Russians have also contributed to the rise in hotel occupancy rates.
“While Germans tend to book their holidays months in advance, Russians prefer making last-minute decisions, which has been a trend this summer as well,” Kuk noted.
Lower prices boost tourism demand during fall
As the tourism season moves into the winter months, hotel prices are expected to become even more attractive, according to AKTOB’s Kavaloglu.
“Hotel rates will likely decrease as we approach winter, making them more appealing to tourists. However, rising operational costs continue to pose challenges for hoteliers, especially as keeping hotels open during the winter becomes increasingly difficult.” he said.
