The 2017 figures for accommodation have been announced; we are the fastest in Europe in occupancy growth

And we also have the greatest loss in revenue

While the accommodation sector ended 2017 with an increase in occupancy, it failed to achieve any notable increase in prices. The Association of Turkish Hoteliers (TÜROB) announced that Türkiye was the country with the highest increase in hotel occupancy in Europe, at 18 percent. By contrast, Türkiye experienced the largest loss in room prices, with a decline of 12.4 percent and an average of 66.8 euros. TÜROB Chairman Timur Bayındır, stating that they expected an increase in tourist numbers in 2018, said: “However, we cannot expect the upward trend in prices to be as fast. We need to focus on achieving an increase in prices.”

The accommodation sector closed 2017 with an increase in occupancy but once again a decline in prices. The Association of Turkish Hoteliers (TÜROB) announced the 2017 data of the worldwide research and analysis company STR. According to TÜROB’s announcement, in 2017 average occupancy rates at hotels in Türkiye reached 60.2 percent with an 18 percent increase, 62.6 percent in İstanbul with a 26 percent increase, and 59.8 percent in Antalya with an 11.5 percent increase.

In 2017, the average daily rate of sold rooms, referred to as ADR (Average Daily Rate), came in at 66.8 euros with a 12 percent decline for the Türkiye average, 76.3 euros with a 14 percent decline in İstanbul, and 74.6 euros with a 5.2 percent decline in Antalya. As for revenue per room on the basis of total room count (RevPAR), the Türkiye average reached 40.2 euros with a 3.3 percent increase compared to the previous year, İstanbul reached 47.7 euros with an 8.4 percent increase, and Antalya reached 44.6 euros with a 5.4 percent increase.

We have the fastest increase in occupancy, but…
In 2017, the country showing the highest increase in hotel occupancy was Türkiye. By contrast, the country experiencing the largest loss in room prices (ADR) was Türkiye, with a decline of 12.4 percent and an average of 66.8 euros. Looking at it on a city basis, while the highest increase in occupancy rates belonged to İstanbul, with a 26 percent increase and 62.5 percent occupancy, the European destination experiencing the largest loss in room prices was İstanbul, with a 14 percent decline and a price of 76.3 euros.

We are hopeful about 2018

Evaluating the 2017 figures, TÜROB Chairman Timur Bayındır pointed out that the negative impact of the decline in prices on Türkiye’s tourism revenues was clearly visible.

Touching on his expectations for 2018, Bayındır said: “Although we have not yet returned to the level we desire in prices, I can say that our hopes for 2018 and the years thereafter are budding.” Bayındır said the following: “The impressions we gained from the major international fairs are increasing our hopes for 2018. The signs coming from the European markets in particular—which are our main market and which we could call the backbone of Turkish tourism—are pleasing. Therefore, an upward trend will begin in 2018. We may once again achieve double-digit growth in tourist numbers. However, it would be wrong to expect the upward trend in prices to be just as fast. We must give thought to the question of ‘how can we raise our prices more quickly without losing the customers we have.’ Rather than the increase in tourist numbers, we need to focus on achieving an increase in prices. This should be the most important work of 2018. Tourism professionals must also show resistance on the matter of prices. Let us not raise prices quickly, but we need to set out on the path to recovery in prices with normal increases that will not disturb us or the customer. I would like to point out that, in terms of prices, it is no longer possible to go any lower.”

SWITZERLAND IS EUROPE’S MOST EXPENSIVE*
Country………Occupancy (%)……Average room price (Euros)
Switzerland………66.1……………………192.8
Italy………..68.5……………………142.8
Malta………..75.6………………….138.3
Croatia….62.2…………………135.9
Ireland………78.3…………………125.9
Greece…..72.3…………………119.7
France………..66.6…………………118.1
Netherlands…..74.3…………………117.9
Spain………74.6…………………114.1
Portugal………70.4…………………110.3
United Kingdom………77.4…………………105.2
Finland…….66.0…………………103.5
Belgium……..70.5………………….102.3
Germany………71.3…………………101.5
Austria…….74.2………………….101.1

*2017 average