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Be careful in Turkey, travel firms warned
Tour operators have been warned to be cautious when expanding in Turkey, even though bookings for the destination were at one point up 78% for summer 2018.
Martin Alcock, director of Travel Trade Consultancy, which advises around 200 travel companies, said Turkey would always be subject to some ‘wobbles’.
Alcock pointed out that when the Foreign Office updated its travel advice to Turkey to include a warning about elections on June 6, bookings ‘dropped off a cliff’.
"That goes to show you that we do have to be careful," he said.
In 2016, many tour operators pulled out of Turkey or reduced their capacity due to falling demand, but along with other Eastern Mediterranean destinations it has seen a revival for summer 2018.
"All the big four operators have been a rise in mid-haul sales, which are up 16% this summer, and the overriding winner has been Turkey," said Alcock, "but it will always be subject to some wobbles."
He advised delegates attending ABTA’s Travel Matters conference in London this week to remain flexible and to ensure they had ‘friendly’ contracts with suppliers in Turkey, without any cancellation penalties. "It is difficult for smaller companies, but make sure you push back on the contract terms and take advice, don’t just assme you have to sign these contracts."
Alcock also warned that some airlines might be heading for trouble as many – including easyJet, Ryanair, Wizz Air and IAG – have announced significant expansion this year, which, he said, is bound to lead to lower air fares.
"Airlines in Europe are on a land-grab, they are trying to increase their marketshare so they will lower prices, but the problem is that we are starting to see oil prices rising. Where you have excess capacity and rising costs, you could see failures or consolidation," he said.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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