Dangerous wildfires near Athens, Greece forced hundreds to evacuate the suburbs north of the country's capital on Monday, August 12, reported to be the worst fire the Mediterranean country has seen so far this year.
23.07.2024 - 23:16 / euronews.com
Turkish tourists are flocking to Greece as inflation makes it too expensive to travel within Turkey.
Inflation has surged in Türkiye in recent months, rocketing to 75.4 per cent in May, driven mainly by increases in hotel, cafe and restaurant prices.
“Actually, this problem started last year when the Turkish government took steps to suppress foreign currency,” Kıvanç Meriç, Chairman of the Izmir Regional Representative Board of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB), tells Euronews Travel.
“This has led to the overvaluation of the Turkish lira in this inflationary environment,” he explains.
“Therefore, in the domestic market, our citizens have the chance to go abroad at a lower cost. At home, the price of hotels remains high.”
Hoteliers “do not raise their prices for higher profits”, Meriç emphasises. “On the contrary, our prices are also increasing due to the high costs.”
The crisis is not only impacting domestic travel in Türkiye.
“I have to say that there is a serious problem in Türkiye’s foreign tourist numbers as well,” says Meriç.
“While Türkiye was in a leading position in Europe, especially in the Mediterranean basin, with its service and hotel quality, it has lost this position due to its price disadvantage.”
It is usually impossible to find a hotel room in Türkiye’s main holiday resorts in July or August, according to Meriç.
In popular destinations along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, occupation rates are usually at 90 to 95 per cent. But this year those same hotels are lucky if they are at 80 per cent occupancy.
These hotels can’t depend on shoulder seasons, either. While many Mediterranean destinations see tourist arrivals from May through to October, the season is much shorter in Türkiye.
“The Turkish tourism sector makes money in the high season. It does not make money in April, May, September and October,” says Meriç. “The main money-making period is from mid-June to mid-September. We are now in the middle of July and we still haven't achieved the levels of occupancy we want.”
Hotel costs aren’t the only thing deterring travellers. Entry tickets to archaeological sites run by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have also soared in price.
“In Türkiye entrance fees for archaeological sites are calculated in euros,” explains Meriç. “While it used to be possible to enter the ancient city of Ephesus for €15, it now costs €40.”
As a result, “cultural tours are dying”, he says. “Customers of cultural tours, especially travellers from distant regions, have started to prefer other countries such as Egypt.”
Meriç goes on to say Turks are choosing to travel to Greece and Balkan countries because hotels are cheaper there.
He says the Greek island of Samos, separated from Türkiye by a strait
Dangerous wildfires near Athens, Greece forced hundreds to evacuate the suburbs north of the country's capital on Monday, August 12, reported to be the worst fire the Mediterranean country has seen so far this year.
Europe dominates in a new ranking of the world’s most beautiful cities, filling nine of the top 10 spots.
An anti-cruise rebellion is afoot in popular tourism destinations in Greece.
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is thrilled to announce the return of HIGHLANDER Adventure, organized by HIGHLANDER, the world’s largest international hiking association. Set to take place from 7-9 February 2025, this premier long-distance hiking challenge will offer hikers and adventure enthusiasts the chance to test themselves on the spectacular trails of Jebel Jais, home to the UAE’s longest developed network of hiking trails at 80km.
Heading off on a long car journey this weekend? Take extra care, as some of Europe’s top holiday hotspots are among the deadliest places in Europe for driving, a new study reveals.
Pantone is just like us, in the sense that they, too, are setting their intentions for the year — one filled with strength and energy. The Color of the Year for 2023 is Viva Magenta, which the company describes as powerful and empowering. “Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration… [It] revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint.” A year surrounded by joy and self-expression sounds like a year well spent to us.
Amid the cafes and boutiques of Athens’s Kolonaki neighborhood is a housewares shop that’s also a showcase for Greek craftsmanship. It’s the first brick-and-mortar location for Crini & Sophia, the brand that the former interior and set designer Maya Zafeiropoulou-Martinou founded in 2022. Its wood-and-rattan shelves, two-tone marble floors and furniture are all made by Greek artists, while one window is decorated with a vinelike steel and spray-paint piece by the Cypriot sculptor Socrates Socratous. The shop’s goods are designed by Zafeiropoulou-Martinou, whose inspirations include the colors in Francis Bacon paintings and the Amazon rainforest. Linens are produced in Portugal before being embroidered in Greece with patterns that often take cues from antiques on view at Athens’s Benaki Museum. Hand-painted ceramics and glassware are made in partnership with artisans in New York, Greece, Italy and France. When it comes to designing your own table, Zafeiropoulou-Martinou encourages layering. “The pattern isn’t just the plate or the tablecloth,” she says of her pieces, “but a puzzle of the two on top of each other.”
Make 2025 the year you realize your travel dream. Maybe that's flying in a helicopter to an Alaskan glacier where you can ride on a dogsled pulled by adorable huskies. Or, perhaps it's sipping wine at vineyards across Italy, Spain and France. Your bucket list might simply include visits to new countries across the globe, such as Japan, New Zealand or Thailand, or be as specific as watching the sun set over Hawaii's Haleakala Crater or snorkeling amid brightly colored coral and fish in Bonaire's Marine Park.
Also known as “Lefkas”, Lefkada is distinct in that it requires no ferry or boat journey to access it—instead, you simply drive over a causeway a short distance from Prevaza airport on the mainland. Part of the Ionian Islands, mountainous Lefkada is densely forested (providing welcome shade when it’s hot) and has some beautiful beaches that are virtually empty during the shoulder seasons. Compared to better-known Greek islands, Lefkada remains crowd-free and uncommercialized (there are no international hotel brands here yet), so keep the secret to yourself. It’s also a good jumping-off point for celebrity magnet Meganisi, where you can visit Fish Taverna Errikos for lunch.
Paris is expected to welcome 11.3 million visitors during the Olympic Games, significantly increasing its population density. This surge in visitors is spurring travel demand to international destinations, such as Italy and the United States, that harness this desire to leave crowds behind, also benefiting United Kingdom, Spain, and Greece, as well as farther destinations, such as Thailand or Japan.
Jul 23, 2024 • 9 min read
Jul 22, 2024 • 9 min read