According to İşler, this number comes as a shot in the arm for the tourism market after low turnover during the previous holiday period of Ramadan, which was a result of the Gezi Park protests. “Despite all the negative events, the Turkish tourism sector continued its growth. In the first eight months, the market expanded by 10.8 percent compared to same period of the previous year. Hotels have reached 100 percent occupancy. This is an indicator that the sector has become stable and left behind its vulnerabilities.”
Noting that dynamism in the tourism sector will be reflected in the domestic market, İşler stated that the tourism sector continues to be the lifeline of the economy. “We expect the sector to contribute an additional TL 500 million to the economy during the holiday season. The hotels in towns with beaches are at full capacity, particularly those in the Aegean region that also provide thermal facilities. In the meantime, demand at historic and cultural places such as Cappadocia has increased."
İşler also underlined that the increasing number of airports and airline carriers has led to competition and that favorable ticket prices have encouraged people to go on vacation.
