Operators say budget tourism will be hit hardest by Turkey bomb blast
Operators claim budget tourism to Turkey will be hardest hit following yesterday’s bomb blast in Istanbul, which claimed the lives of at least 10 people including several tourists.
Today Turkish authorities have detained three Russian nationals suspected of links with Islamic State following yesterday’s suicide bomb, reports Reuters.
Police have also seized documents and CDs during a search of the premises where the suspects were staying, Turkey’s Dogan News Agency said.
So far, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not changed its advice on travel to Turkey. Currently it advises against all travel within 10km of the border with Syria.
As January is low season in Turkey, few British tour operators had customers in Istanbul when the bomb exploded close to the Blue Mosque on Tuesday. Most of the foreigners who were killed and injured were from Germany and Norway.
Zekiye Yucel, founder and managing director of AITO speciaist operator The Discovery Collection and Ted Wake, joint MD of Kirker Holidays agreed that the budget end of the market was likely to be hardest hit by yesterday’s attack.
"Although we are devastated by the attack, the timing at least was a relief," said Yucel, "but it will have an impact on bookings, at least initially.
"The two and three-star hotels will feel it the most."
"Tourists feel safest in the top hotels, possibly because the people who stay in these hotels are those most accustomed to travelling," said Wake, adding that some clients ‘will be more determined than ever’ to visit Istanbul following the attack.
He said that top end hotels were likely to use pricing to lure visitors back. "There is no question at all that in the spring there will be good value round in the five-star category," added Wake. "Our hope is that within a month’s time it would be right for us to try to develop the spring market to Turkey.
"The atmosphere in Istanbul now is of sorrow but there is a sense of determination to carry on and encourage tourists to return."
Turkey’s tourist office has been called on to do more to promote the destination to UK holidaymakers following yesterday’s attack.
Yucel said travel to Turkey from the UK was already down before an apparent suicide bomber caused an explosion in the middle of Istanbul’s main tourist district on Tuesday morning.
She added: "I don’t think the tourist office has done enough so far to encourage people from the UK to visit Turkey," she said. "It needs to do more to reinforce the message that the country is safe for holidaymakers and that it is a safe country to travel to."
"Turkey has been down since the events in Ankara (when suicide bombers killed 103 demonstrators) and due to events in Tunisia, but I almost thought confidence was coming back until this attack. This will affect things."
James McKay of Westminster Classic Tours said: "Thankfully, we have no guests in Turkey right now, just plenty of fantastic suppliers, colleagues and friends who are going to have their lives made even more difficult by this dismal turn of events."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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