Spain, Greece, UAE, Russia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, UK and Bulgaria Capture Tourist Spending as Turkey Faces Backlash Over Soaring Holiday Prices and Lost Value – Travel And Tour World

As Turkey grapples with soaring holiday prices, inflation-driven service costs, and a growing perception of poor value, European and global tourists are increasingly shifting their travel budgets toward alternative destinations like Spain, Greece, the UAE, Russia, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, the UK, and Bulgaria. Once known for its affordability and rich cultural appeal, Turkey is now losing ground to these countries, which are capturing a greater share of tourist spending by offering more competitive pricing, reliable services, and better overall vacation experiences. The backlash against Turkey’s escalating costs is reshaping tourism flows across Europe and beyond.

Turkey’s Tourism Suffers as High Prices Deter European Tourists

Turkey, a land once celebrated as a country of old civilization, ancient marvels, and affordable travel offers, is now suffering from escalating concern that tourist numbers are falling sharply as holiday costs balloon and are approaching – or even surpassing – costs in Europe’s major holiday locations.

No longer a destination of choice for budget-conscious tourists chasing a combination of exotic allure and affordability, Turkey is going through a shift in image. European tourists, once flocking to its sun-drenched beaches and ancient cities, are having second thoughts as inflation, rising service charges, and rising accommodation expenses render the nation a more expensive destination than before.

Increasing Travel Costs Eroding Turkey’s Competitive Edge

Recent industry studies determine that Turkey’s tourism industry faces pressure owing to rising costs of inputs, and consequently, prices of accommodation, food, and other services have significantly risen. In key resort cities such as Antalya and Bodrum, hotels have raised their prices to rates no different from, or in some cases, higher than, cities like Spain, Greece, and the UAE.

According to information from Tourism Review, travelers have been claiming that a trip to Turkey no longer offers the cost advantage that once made Turkey attractive to visitors. In real life, some vacation tours around the Turkish Riviera reach as high as one hundred fifty thousand Turkish lira – approximately sixty-one million Indonesian rupiah. For a reference point, a similar family vacation in Greece can cost between one thousand four hundred sixty and one thousand eight hundred thirty euros, or around thirty-two million to forty point five million Indonesian rupiah.

Such pressure is not limited only to foreign visitors. Inflation and prices have trimmed profit margins for Turkish tourism sectors, pushing them to pass on rising costs to consumers. This has created escalating dissatisfaction among foreign visitors pertaining to value for money, and this can have a substantial impact on repeat visits and overall standing.

City Deterred European Visitors

Tourist statistics from between January and May 2025 show a cause for alarm. Between 2024 and 2025, foreign arrivals declined by 0.15 percent to 17.78 million vis-à-vis last year’s corresponding periods. Though on paper this fall appears small, month-on-month contraction sounds frighteninger.

International arrivals dropped 1.81 percent in May 2025 compared to last year. Largest falls were in Turkey’s key source markets:

Russian arrivals dropped by 5.2 percent, to 1.72 million arrivals.

German visitors, another key market, dropped by 18.1 percent and reached 597,348 visitors.

Other markets such as the UK and Bulgaria also experienced a considerable fall in numbers.

These figure are a cause for concern that Turkey’s storied reputation as a value-for-money, high-standard destination is slipping from view among many European holidaymakers.

From Budget Paradise to Premium Pricing

Tur­key had a cachet for a decade or more as a cheap alternative to their Mediterranean counterparts, offering luxury resort lifestyle at a tiny percentage of the cost. But as inflation on the ground accelerates and service industries accommodate rising cost of doing business, that cachet is rapidly fading.

Experts blame the main culprit as persistent inflationary pressure from Turkey’s economy, and this has impacted internal as well as external dynamics of tourism. Visitorswho once praised the country for offering five-star services at three-star prices now question if they’re still getting their money’s worth.

The price adjustments can be found everywhere in the travel economy — from all-inclusives and small hotels to restaurants and tour operators. Even local attractions, once free or within their moderate price tier, have revised entry prices to reflect new economic realities.

Industry Response and Outlook

The hotel and tourism associations in Turkey have also been worried by the longer-term effects of these rising prices. Several industry players warn that if the trajectory of rising prices persists without value addition or service improvement, Turkey stands to lose a sizeable share of Europe’s tourist market to its competitors based in the Mediterranean.

While still among the globe’s most toured countries – having actually surpassed Italy in foreign visitors last year with 56.7 million visitors – sustainable pace will depend on strategic price readjustments, enhanced standards of service, and ongoing value provision.

As Turkey’s holiday costs surge, tourists are diverting spending to destinations like Spain, Greece, UAE, and the UK, drawn by better value and stable pricing. This shift is costing Turkey its edge as a top affordable travel destination.

Looking Ahead

Turkey remains a destination with unrivaled tourism potential – a rich well of history, scenic appeal, and cultural heritage. Maintaining its spot on travelers’ bucket lists will require a restructuring of industry pricing, however, at least if its market positioning is to remain sustainable vis-à-vis Spain and Greece. Now that visitors become more value- and price-aware in the post-pandemic travel market, no longer do beaches or luxury lodgings carry all the weight. Instead, affordability, transparency, and experience become determinants on which Turkey must regain its leadership and become a premier destination among European visitors.