The number of Ukrainian tourists visiting Turkey may hit 1 million over
this year if tour operators do not raise tour package prices in the high
season, a leading sector representative from Ukraine has said.
“Ukrainian
people are not paid very high nowadays. After the economic crisis,
wages regressed to $200 on average. So hikes in tour package prices
should be avoided in July and August to keep them coming to Turkey. Over
749,000 Ukrainians visited Turkey last year. This may increase up to 1
million this year if tour package prices are not hiked,” said
Association of Tourism Business Leaders of Ukraine (ALTU) head Aleksandr Novikovsky during his visit to the Aegean resort town of Marmaris.
The Turkish tourism sector is struggling amid bilateral tension with Russia and rising security concerns across the country.
Saying
that Turkey’s official $6,000 support for every flight carrying
tourists into a number of leading touristic destinations is of great
importance, Novikovsky added that average ticket prices per person from Ukraine to Turkey have fallen from $180 to $150 thanks to this support.
“When
a Ukrainian comes to Turkey with a holiday package worth $500, s/he
spends around $200 on shopping on average,” he also said.
YDA
Dalaman Airport Foreign Flights General Manager Hamdi Güvenç said only
around 5,000 tourists are arriving at the airport in the 18 flights
every week.
“Ukraine has been a rising star for us. Many
Ukrainians visit our country more than once and continue to come. One of
the most crucial targets of our sector is to have loyal customers, like
Ukrainians. I believe our sector will overcome its losses soon thanks
to loyal customers,” Güvenç added.
