Greek islands are half the price of Türkiye

The cost of a holiday has increased significantly compared to last year. The minimum cost for a family of four planning a holiday starts in the six-figure range. Last year, vacations planned for similar dates cost around 100,000-110,000 TL, but this year they have reached 170,000 TL. The cost of a holiday varies between 30% and 100%, depending on the type of accommodation and transportation options chosen.

While the cost of accommodation for an average holiday can reach 140,000 TL, when transportation costs are included, the total cost reaches 170,000 TL. During the holiday, a family of four must budget approximately 7,500 TL for ground transportation alone. If they choose to fly, this amount goes up significantly.

Müberra Eresin, President of the Hoteliers Association of Turkey (TÜROB), stated that they expect occupancy rates in coastal areas to reach levels that will satisfy tourism professionals, while they anticipate a quieter period in major cities like Istanbul. Eresin noted that Istanbul's hotel stays will primarily consist of foreign tourists.

Kaan Kavaloğlu, President of the Mediterranean Touristic Hoteliers and Operators Association (AKTOB), noted that the sector, which kicked off the tourism season with Ramadan Bayram (Eid al-Fitr), will also kick off the so-called high season with Eid al-Adha. Kavaloğlu expressed the following thoughts:

"It's very important and valuable for tourism. Furthermore, the sooner this is announced, the sooner our Turkish guests can plan their holidays. Of course, the Eid al-Adha period also has its disadvantages: because it falls right before exam week and school closures, families who make reservations are often those whose children are not taking the exams," Kavaloğlu said. He added that the cost of daily accommodation per person in Antalya and the surrounding area starts at 5,000 TL, and in luxury hotels, this figure can reach up to 100,000 TL.

Alişir Şahin, Vice President of the Bodrum Hoteliers Association (BODER), emphasized that the city offers beaches and accommodations for all walks of life, noting that hotel room rates per person per night start from 2,000 TL and rise to 43,000 TL in upscale areas like Türkbükü and Yalıkavak. Eda Yurtcan, President of the Aydın Regional Board of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, noted that the holiday will kick off the season quickly, adding that the coincidence of Eid al-Adha with the Christian holiday of Pfingsten (Pentecost) presents a significant opportunity for international tourism.

With visa-on-arrival requirements, the number of companies operating from Türkiye to the Greek islands has increased, as have ferry services. İDO, which launched last year, carried 155,000 passengers with flights to Samos, Patmos, Leros, and Kalymnos in 2024. This year, it aims to reach 300,000. As the number of flights increases, so does the interest of Turkish tourists in the islands. Industry representatives estimate that 30,000 Turkish tourists could cross the islands during the holiday season.

Bus and ferry fares cost 30-50 euros per person, while the total cost for four people is 10,000 to 14,000 Turkish Lira. Prices for a one-week hotel stay range from 20,000 to 60,000 Turkish Lira. A one-week holiday on the Greek islands costs between 40,000 and 50,000 Turkish Lira in the economy class and up to 95,000 Turkish Lira in the luxury class.