Turkey bookings fall 60pc as costs soar

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Turkey’s hold on Bahraini holidaymakers has cracked, with soaring fares and punishing costs driving bookings down by as much as 60 pc this summer.

Families once bound for Istanbul and Trabzon are turning instead to Cairo, Thailand, Bosnia and nearby Gulf cities, travel agents said. Higher hotel bills, food prices and transport costs have made Turkey far less appealing than it was a year ago.

Cairo has taken much of the trade. Its markets, restaurants, family attractions and lower prices have made it one of the strongest summer choices for Bahrainis.

Jihad Amin, chief executive of House of Travel, said Bosnia and Herzegovina had also seen a sharp rise in bookings. Many groups that once chose Turkey had switched to Bosnia this year, he said.

Mr Amin put the fall in Turkey bookings at up to 60 pc. Heat across parts of Europe had also put some travellers off trips to the continent.

Cairo, Turkey, Spain and the south of France still held their place among Bahraini travellers, he said, but many were now seeking cooler weather, scenery and family outings at a lower price.

Habil Al Khayat, general manager of New Atlantis Travel, also said demand for Turkey had fallen by 60 pc.

He blamed dearer flights and living costs, adding that local transport in some parts of Turkey could now cost more than in London.

Bahrainis who once flocked to Turkey were turning instead to shorter and cheaper stays in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, he said.

Dubai offered new hotels, restaurants, shopping and family attractions in one place, though its summer heat remained a drawback.

Abu Dhabi was also winning family bookings through its theme parks and leisure sites. Oman still drew Bahraini visitors, but in smaller numbers than several rival destinations.

Mr Al Khayat said Thailand led bookings at his firm, with Cairo close behind because of its prices, markets and range of things to do.

His company had seen weaker sales for Bosnia and Indonesia, showing that booking patterns differed between agencies.

Waad Makki, travel and tourism expert, said summer travel had picked up after months of caution during regional unrest.

Gulf cities remained popular despite the heat because they were close to Bahrain and allowed travellers to return home quickly should trouble arise, she said.

Thailand and Sri Lanka were also among the most booked destinations, helped by lower package prices and a wide choice of tours.