ISTANBUL – Hürriyet Daily News
Deloitte publishes an accommodation report every year to evaluate the tourism sector. The latest issue, published in November, focuses on the accommodation sector in Europe. The report says Istanbul hotels have had an almost 73 percent occupancy rate and registered 10 percent growth in revenue per available room in 2010, thanks to its tenure as a European Capital of Culture
Deloitte report says those wanting to stay within the limits of the Euro region prefer Istanbul also because it is cheaper.
Istanbul hotels increased their revenue per available room nearly 10 percent in 2010 due to the city’s status as a European Capital of Culture for the year, according to a Deloitte report.
The report also said Istanbul hotels had an almost 73 percent occupancy rate.
Deloitte publishes an accommodation report every year to evaluate the global tourism sector. The latest issue published in November focused on the accommodation sector in Europe and the world. The report said developing countries’ economic recovery process accelerated, whereas growth in Europe was slower.
Deloitte Turkey Tourism and Entertainment Industries Leader Ahmet Cangöz said in the report that the events organized as part of the Capital of Culture project were not only an attraction for Istanbul residents, but also for foreigners.
“Particularly those who want to stay within the limits of the Euro region prefer Istanbul, both because it’s cheaper and because it presently is the culture capital. This is a great force contributing to Turkey’s tourism development plans. We predict that Istanbul will continue its performance next year.”
The report said the 10 percent growth in revenue per available room stemming from being a capital of culture occurred due to a 14 percent increase in occupancy rates.
According to the report, room prices were 4 percent lower in Istanbul and this reduction had a positive effect on occupancy rates in the last four months, “ as a consequence of which, the hoteliers now have the chance to increase their room prices.”
The report said the year was a great advantage for Turkey’s efforts in trying to make Istanbul rank seventh on the best destinations for tourists list of the U.N. World Tourism Organization by 2023.
Germany, England Europe’s tourism giants
Munich, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Cologne are on the list of the five fastest-growing hotel markets, with a 19 percent average growth rate, according to the report.
The report said average room prices in Germany grew 12.4 percent, while the occupancy rate increased from 50.9 percent to 62.9 percent. The report said the growth stemmed from events like fairs and conventions.
In London hotels, there was a similar increase, the report said, adding that the hotels in the U.K. capital registered a 12.2 percent growth in revenue per available room. The U.K. ranked highest in Europe in terms of room occupancy rates at 82 percent.
The report said the growth was due to the biannual Farnborough Air Show and Arabic tourists seeking cooler regions for shopping during the Ramadan bayram holiday.
Israel’s Tel Aviv was the only non-European city on the list, with a 17 percent growth rate, the report said.