Asked on the question and answer platform Quora, “Is it true that poor Europeans go to Turkey for vacation?” The question sparked controversy. Turks who live or have lived abroad and foreigners who have come to Turkey or have never been to Turkey have very different opinions.
Most of us are witnesses to the depreciation of the TL from inside, and when we see foreign tourists, most of us think, “Either they are having a free holiday in Turkey” or “He brings the holiday for free with the TL interest he earns from the foreign exchange”. However, while doing this, tourists within the borders of our country people’s livelihoods in their own country we can ignore.
It is useful not to think so monotonously about the “European tourist” generalization. Because, answering this question on Quora, a citizen of Serbia says that those who come to Turkey from his country on holiday are not poor, but rich. He even states that middle-income people from Serbia go to Greece, and low-income people go to Montenegro, which is even cheaper. The respondents include both Turks and foreigners, so let’s take a look together.
“Is it true that poor Europeans go to Turkey for vacation?” Answers to the question on Quora:
According to 2019 data, tourists coming to Turkey spent almost as much money per capita as tourists in France:
Answering the question by participating from Istanbul, Noyan Aydın answered NO to the question, referring to a study announced in 2019 based on the amount of “spend per tourist” made in 2018. According to the report Tourists in Turkey spent 811 dollars per person in 2018They spent $819 per person in France, $982 in Spain, and $838 in Italy. Of course, these spending amounts will change with tourism measures and bans due to the epidemic. However, ignoring the effect of the epidemic, Turkey is a country where tourists spend almost as much money as France.
However, what another Turk, who looks at the issue from a different angle, says:
Özgür Kayalar stated that he lived in an IT company in Belfast, Ireland for 1 year. “a big YES” He gave the answer and explains the situation with an experience he had. at work to engineers When asked, he says that countries such as France, Italy, Montenegro, Greece, Israel and Egypt are mostly preferred for summer holidays, and he even states that Turkey is not mentioned. When he asked the same question to the cleaning workers one day when he left the office late, “I always go to Turkey!” He states that he got the answer.
Stating that he spent his childhood in Bodrum, Kayalar, according to his own observations, said that the tourist profile in Bodrum was Europe’s economically and culturally lowest stratum He says he agrees with.
There are also those who say that most of the European tourists come to Turkey from rural areas, that is, from relatively low-income areas:
Another user, who seems to be living in Turkey, stated that a significant portion of the incoming tourists are “people with average income and are seen as ‘poor’ in their own country”, but cross the border and cross the border. When they entered Turkey, they suddenly became rich. Talking about.
“Better hotel, better food, more activities in Turkey for the same money…”
Another user named Ahmed, who states that he lives in Germany, states that Turkey is the best holiday option for him; It praises its beaches, metropolitan cities, geographical structure and plant diversity. He also states that he has to check the restaurant menus when he goes on vacation to Switzerland or Italy, but he does not need this in Turkey. Better hotel in Turkey for the same money, He says he can find better food, more activities. Another reason affecting his choice is that Turkey provides visa convenience.
It seems to be a good option for both low-income Europeans and high-income foreigners in Turkey; because there are options for every pocket. However, we will see what has changed in the tourism sector in the coming years.
Vacationing in Turkey with unemployment benefits:
Malvado Malpass, who lives in France, answered the question with an unequivocal YES, “There is no need to talk about this question. Simple question, simple answer. So, yes, poor European. unemployment benefits etc. using their income He is going on vacation to Turkey. I don’t want to go into too much detail. If you don’t believe me, come see it with your own eyes.”
Not only “poor Europeans”, but also many middle-class Europeans can enjoy a 5-star holiday in Turkey:
Another user, Johnny Shredderman, expresses with a nice explanation that European tourists coming to Turkey cannot be referred to only with the word “poor”. He underlines that the main reason for this is that Turkey offers more opportunities for the same money. Tourists spend as much in Turkey as in Italy and France, but they do not in better possibilities over a longer period of time they can.
Bonus:
