Hotel occupancy rate rises in Turkey

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - A hotel association on Thursday reported that hotel occupancy rate, revenue per available room (RevPAR) and average daily rate (ADR) for rooms increased annually in Turkey last year.

Hotel occupancy rate across the country rose nearly 10 percent year-on-year to 66.2 percent in 2018, according to the Turkish Hotel Association (TUROB) report, based on a survey conducted by data and analysis company STR Global.

RevPAR increased to €46.6 ($53.5), up 17 percent while ADR for rooms went up 6.6 percent to €70.4 ($80.9) during the same period.

The report showed that Turkey posted the highest increase in hotel occupancy rate and RevPAR among European countries. However, it could not catch the average of Europe.

In Europe on average, hotel occupancy rate was 72.4 percent and RevPAR was €114.4 (€128) last year, the report said.

Timur Bayindir, the head of TUROB , said the country should focus on congress tourism in order to raise revenues per available room.

"We are expecting 10-12 percent rise in both hotel occupancy and average daily rates this year," Bayindir said.

Turkey welcomed 39.5 million foreign visitors in 2018, up 21.84 percent year-on-year, according to the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

The country's annual tourism revenue rose 12.3 percent to hit $29.5 billion in 2018, according to the country's statistical authority.