Turkish Hotels Slash Unsold Room Prices by Up to 60%

Turkish resort hotels have started cutting prices on unsold rooms during the peak season, with some properties offering discounts of up to 60%, according to a tourism agent from Alanya. Aslan Mustafa Kildoner told RIA Novosti that last-minute deals are sometimes now cheaper than early bookings, which could undermine confidence in the advance-booking system.

Data from Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism shows weak hotel occupancy in the first half of the season. In May, average occupancy nationwide hit its lowest level in five years. June improved slightly to 52.23%, but still marked the weakest June in recent years. Industry representatives say July saw a partial pickup, and August and September are expected to be stronger, though the situation remains uneven and depends on the specific property.

Kildoner noted that price differences for the same hotel can be significant even when bookings are made just weeks apart. He warned that if travelers realize waiting brings lower prices, they may abandon the habit of planning trips early. That, in turn, could make it harder for hotels to secure necessary occupancy before the season starts and reduce the effectiveness of early-booking promotions.