Trade cautious over Turkey

THE trade is keeping a watching brief on Turkey as fears grow of mass cancellations and plummeting sales following warnings about bird flu.

Sales to Turkey have already been under pressure since last July’s bomb blast in the resort of Kusadasi, but has been dealt another blow with news two people have died from bird flu and a further 13 hospitalised in the country, leading to warnings in the national press that tourists should cancel trips.

A major operator admitted: “Turkey is not performing particularly well compared with other destinations.”

Cancellation rates to Turkey over the next few days are critical to gauging the seriousness of the issue, according to the big four.

A First Choice spokeswoman said: “We’ve had some calls from people already booked. We will have to keep an eye on the situation.”

Travel agents are already reporting following demand for Turkey.

Lindsay Flowers, co-manager of Wish You Were Here Travel in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, said: “Nobody has picked up a brochure for Turkey since Christmas even though it was huge last summer. This hasn’t helped.

“What happens long term will depend on whether the authorities can get bird flu under control quickly. If it can be transferred between humans, that’ll have a big impact.”

Lee Harrison, owner of Great Malvern-based Select World Travel, a Turkey specialist, said: “It’s up to us to allay people’s fears.”

Turkey specialist operator Goldtrail Holidays said bookings were holding up with only a few concerned clients.

Goldtrail Holidays hopes to send between 75,000 and 100,000 UK holidaymakers to Turkey this year, up from 70,000 in 2005, and will operate new flights to Bodrum from Leeds Bradford Airport this week. “If Foreign Office advice changes, we’ll have to look at our programme,” said sales and marketing manager Joe Lavers.

Tapestry Holidays managing director Nick Wrightman said fears over bird flu in Turkey, where 45% of the operator’s programme is based, have yet to hit bookings. “It depends on how much it is in the national press as to whether or not bookings slow down,” he added.