A popular holiday destination is said to be "deserted" as it's claimed tourists are avoiding visiting the country, and it's not the first time such allegations have been made. Videos have been circulating showing quiet hotels and beaches, while some say the war in the Middle East may be putting people off visiting.
However, in recent years, other factors have also claimed to have had an impact, with holidaymakers talking of the expense and rising prices of visiting. The travel news was recently brought to light on TikTok, when one tourist shared footage from their hotel claiming it was "silent".
It's easy to see it looked very quiet, with hardly anyone by the pool and sunbeds being empty. As someone who's been to Turkey recently, they said it seemed as though people were staying away.
The social media user wrote alongside the footage: "The war in Iran has definitely affected tourism. I’m in Turkey right now, and the hotel feels almost deserted.
"Only around 10 guests here. Even the weather hasn’t helped, so the whole place feels unusually quiet."
One person was quick to point out it's not summer yet, and to this the person replied: "The hotel staff said they’d usually have around 400 guests at this time of year, but due to regional conflicts affecting tourism, business has dropped significantly."
As well as this, a few weeks ago a social media user known as Sophie Does Thingz said the holiday hotspot was "super quiet" when she stayed there. She added that "all the tourists decided not to come to Turkey this year", which got a lot of people talking.
To this, one person replied: "I hate it. I want to leave." Someone else wrote: "Girl, the weather is a bit cold here compared to other years. I think tourists will begin to come in a month or two."
Others also pointed out that peak season hasn't arrived yet. Another added: "The season hasn’t started yet that’s why."
One more also suggested: "It's not even season." It's a topic that got a lot of people talking.
According to reports, tourism in Turkey has seen a decline since March in specific sectors and regions due to the conflict in Iran. It's said there's been a rise in booking cancellations and halted travel from Middle Eastern neighbours.
While eastern border regions are heavily impacted, major coastal tourist hubs like Antalya and Bodrum are claimed to have remained relatively stable. As well as this, the European/British demand is said to remain strong.
However, in the last few years, tourists have admitted they've been "put off" visiting for other reasons. Recent years have seen some holidaymakers claim the destination has become "too expensive".
This is because the country has witnessed high inflation and severe devaluation of the Turkish Lira. This has led to the hotspot no longer being considered a "cheap" destination by many.
Nonetheless, it's still considered to be popular with tourists. Reports state that roughly 4.4 million Brits visit annually, with some saying they're "booking flights now" as they're so keen to visit.
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