A drop in tourism shaved off nearly 1% of Turkey's GDP in 2016 - but visitors are beginning to return
"But is it really safe to go to Turkey?" That's the question being asked again and again by holiday-hungry travelers looking for their next destination.
And the question makes sense. In the past few years, Turkey has suffered a wave of terrorist attacks and seen a failed military coup with a hard-hitting government response. The country is going through political and economic instability -- echoing in all levels of society. And scaring off tourists from around the world.
But there's something about Turkey. About the history there. The mountains, the water, the food, the atmosphere. And after a deep crisis, visitors are slowly starting to return.
The country's domestic turmoil has hit the national tourism industry - and economy - hard. And the government of Antalya - Turkey's resort and tourist heaven - and Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism are working hard to change that.
In 2016 the number of tourists visiting Turkey dropped by nearly one third to about 25 million. The crisis shaved off nearly 1% of Turkey's GDP in 2016.
And despite all it has to offer, Turkey, and Antalya in particular, is now forced to compete with other destinations that have become popular in recent years - like Greece, and Malta.
"Comparing to Greece, I do not see any huge difference. The weather is quite similar, the kitchen also", says a Polish tourist travelling in Antalya with his wife and two children.
They came here for the low prices and all-inclusive resorts. And that is where they stay – almost exclusively:
"We are a family with two children, we would like to not take a high risk, so we stay in the hotel".
With 60% of its economy dependent on tourism, Antalya is an area dependent on its visitors feeling satisfied and welcome.
But just like the rest of Turkey, Antalya is fighting against a sense of insecurity and fear -- sometimes even from the tourists that do choose to go.
2016 was a year of monthly terrorist attacks in Turkey. And although the number of attacks fell drastically in 2017, - at least so far - just this week a policer officer was stabbed to death at a police station in Istanbul by a man affiliated with Islamic State and who was allegedly suspected of planning a suicide bombing.
Several foreign governments, including the UK, Denmark and Israel have issued travel warnings for Turkey.
Still, traffic continues to be a lot more dangerous than terrorism in Turkey - and in Antalya the streets are being surveilled by undercover police and guards.
"Antalya or Turkey is not much [more] dangerous than Jerusalem, or other world cities, London, Berlin, or New York. It's SAFE", says Osman Ozbuldu, a tour guide in Antalya.
"If we are scared, we terrified for our own lives. We should be courageous and the terrorists won't win. We were in Antalya street yesterday, you didn't see much policemen. They control and make Antalya secure enough".
The number of Russian visitors especially plummeted after the diplomatic crisis that took off in November 2015, when Turks shot down a Russian warplane. Before, 1 in 10 visitors to Turkey were Russians. But by May 2016, just six months later, the number of tourists from Russia had dropped 92 percent.
Feride Koray, the Guest Relations Agent at the Legend Hotel, says things are starting to turn around.
"With the Russians guests, yes it's true that it is much [more] less than in the previous years. But it's getting better and better".
The Legend Hotel offers a unique experience for children and their parents - everything from cartoon characters and dressed-up dancers serving candy to water shows with dolphins and wall-to-wall screens featuring live images of visitors and CGI-animals.
About an hour away is the historic town of Side, known for its long beaches and the beautiful Greco-Roman ruins. The remains of a 2nd-century theater which seated up to 15,000 people is side-by-side with a small pedestrian street, filled with small shops, local food and tasty ice-cream.
Mehmet Kuhtlu owns a bag shop there, and he has felt the drop in tourists.
"Last year [there were] almost no Russian people here, because the Russians listened to the Government. But this year [the governments] have good connections again, and it's good for the tourism."
A little of everythingAntalya is both a city and a region - and whether you prefer to lie on a beach, dive, hike, shop or visit historical sites, you can find it there. Often with a little cup of black Turkish coffee. The old town has a unique atmosphere and look, resembling the small romantic streets of Rome with a Middle Eastern twist. It offers a vibrant nightlife with live-music, alcohol and sometimes even pools inside of the bars.
And things are slowly starting to turn around for Turkey's tourism industry. According to the Turkish Statistics Institute, the country's tourism revenue grew by 8.7 percent during the second quarter of this year. But even if Turkish tourism does rebound this season, the industry continues to be burdened with about 17 billion dollars in debt.
The political reality facing Turkey right now is complicated. Many foreigners are worried about going there - making it less alluring. And yet, tourists are starting to return to Turkey. Perhaps it's the breathtaking beaches and mountains, or simply the low prices. Or the wide range of all-inclusive resorts for all ages and tastes. Either way, there seems to be something there.
Bianca Zanini
Through the Governor of Antalya and the Turkish Embassy in Israel, our International Affairs Correspondent Bianca Zanini was invited with a group of journalists to visit Antalya.
Source: There's something about Turkey
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