The combination of the end of the tourist season and a tourist slump in Turkey since the terrorist attacks in Istanbul and the attempted coup there have driven prices of overnights there to rock bottom levels. A four-star hotel in Anatolia is offering an overnight for less than NIS 100 for a double room, an unprecedentedly low price.
In addition to the terrorist events, the tourism crisis in Turkey is primarily a result of the absence of Russian tourists following the downing of a Russian plane by Turkey and the poor state of the Russian economy. Tourists from other countries, including the US, are also staying away from Turkey, and hoteliers are being forced to sell vacations at extra-low prices.
According to the HotelsCombined price comparison website, a double room in a four-star hotel is being offered for NIS 96 a night at the Reutlingen Hof Hotel and NIS 99 at the Kaleici Lodge Hotel in Anatolia.
Prices for three-star hotels are even lower, with offers of overnights for around NIS 84. For example, at the Blue Stars Hotel, NIS 5 extra will buy a double breakfast for a couple. Despite the suspiciously low price, HotelsCombined stated that the hotel was a good one, with a swimming pool and rooms with all the accessories.
HotelsCombined business development manager Ayal Segal said, "The prices we're seeing don't even cover the hosting costs. They are merely a nominal price, so that the place will not be empty. It's painful to see regional tourism reach such a state. There are families living in the region whose entire living comes from tourism. The combination of such a vacation with low cost flights makes the vacation very affordable. For example, Turkish airline Pegasus is charging $100 for a Thursday to Saturday deal."
Prices in Istanbul are also at fire sale levels. A four-star hotel, such as Sapphire Istanbul, is offering an overnight for NIS 130, compared with a full price of NIS 300.
The booking.com website is offering select hotels in Anatolia at $30-40 a night, in most cases including breakfast.
The hotels.com website is offering three-star hotels in Anatolia at NIS 114 per night, and even at NIS 86 a night in the Movie Life Expo Hotel.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 19, 2016
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2016