Turkey specialists are responding to an interest in tailor-made trips by expanding their product range.
Anatolian Sky managing director Akin Koc said overall sales at the operator have grown by 65% in the first quarter of the year, his tailor-made programme has seen an increase of up to 75% over the same period.
He believes this is due to a combination of customers becoming increasingly familiar with the country as well as a growing awareness of the product on offer aside from its beaches.
He added: “This move to tailor-made holidays confirms Turkey as a mainstream destination with enough people now going for the third or fourth time and wanting to see specific areas.”
Cadogan Holidays product manager for the eastern Mediterranean Jenny Dalling said it is considering introducing cultural tours into its programme as well as Bodrum. This will provide greater opportunities to introduce tailor-made trips which currently account for less than 10% of the operator’s sales. It is also looking at introducing city breaks to Istanbul for the forthcoming winter due to the popularity of the destination. The operator introduced its Turkish programme with Marmaris in 2007 and added Antalya for 2009.
Dalling said: “We’re hoping Turkey is going to be one of our best sellers but it is still quite a late-booking market.”
Jewel in the Crown managing director Platon Loizou said although he has no tailor-made programme for Turkey, he has seen an increase of 25% in sales to the country with pricing broadly similar to this time last year.
However, he added: “Everybody wants a deal I’ve never seen it like that before.”