By 2025, the country is struggling with a significant collapse in tourism, especially among British holidaymakers who are increasingly relying on Greece as an ideal destination in the Mediterranean. Turkey was once hailed as an affordable paradise, but resorts, such as Marmaris, Bodrum and Antalya, are facing half-full hotels despite peak season.
There is evidence of a decline in 15-20 per cent occupancy rates in rooms as compared to past years when hotels used to be full at all times. High prices, a poor safety record, and Greece’s liberal visa policies with the Turkish people have led to this shift, leaving Turkey’s tourism industry reeling and experts warning that it will get better if Turkey does not regain the advantage of the affordability issue.
Economic Influences that Fuel the Exodus
The major cause of tourism in Turkey is hyperinflation, as the cost of accommodation, dining out, and visiting attractions has escalated. Niki, a travel expert at Fast Cover Travel Insurance, noted that foreigners are increasingly struggling to justify the rising prices in Turkey, where hotels in cities like Bursa are charging €100-150 a night. A drink or a meal, in tourist resorts such as Icmeler, can now be just as expensive as in Western Europe, with a beer costing 5 Euros.
This undermining of the affordable aspect of Turkey has caused the high price-conscious Brit to go to Greece, where places, such as Rhodes and Kos, offer competitive rates and seem to have greater value. As an example, one visiting Marmaris complained about the poor quality of overpriced kebabs and high-pressure sales as compared to the cheap gyros and friendly people in Greece.
Greece’s Visa Policy Boosts Appeal
A major element in this transformation has been the fact that Greece has introduced express visas to allow Turkish tourists to visit ten islands (including Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, and Rhodes) on a seven-day visa since April 1, 2024. These islands received 20,690 Turkish visitors within the first ten days, many of whom had previously spent their holidays at home due to visa restrictions.
This policy has not only attracted Turkish holiday-makers but also incidentally enhanced Greece as a destination for tourists who look forward to lively destinations that are visited frequently, such as the Greeks. The traditional old towns, homespun food, and culture of Rhodes have made it a new favourite among Brits, who rave about the polar opposite experience in some parts of Turkey, where Blackpool-on-Sea is the closest thing to culture.
Concerns over Safety and Deteriorating Service Quality
Besides the economic perspective, safety issues are deterring British tourists in Turkey. Warnings were also issued by the UK Foreign Office in 2025 of heightened rates of sexual attacks in coastal tourist resorts and the risk in areas of the Syrian border, which served to drive away some tourists. Similar sentiments are also present on social media posts on X, where people point to the scams and the reduction of service quality that occurred over the last ten years.
Said one visitor, who had a tab of £2,000 at one group supper in Istanbul: It is being screwed. On the other hand, Greece is considered to be safer and more tourist-friendly, with its medieval-style architecture, fresh food, and hospitable workers being commonly appreciated. A British couple who stayed in Marmaris for only three days, retelling their experience, explained their transition to Greece as life-changing due to the Greek cultural value and a high-quality infrastructure.
Economic and Cultural Effects
The slump in tourism in Turkey has far-reaching implications. The popularity of Turkish tourists to Greece and the so-called game cruisers who purchase PS5 in Rhodes at tax-free is a drain on the Turkish economy. The representatives of tourism in Turkey have asked authorities in that country to terminate the express visa scheme used by Greece, claiming that it attracts domestic visitors.
In the meantime, Greece is facing its own problems, as the anti-tourism mood is strong in Athens, and there are issues about infrastructure overload. Nevertheless, British tourists are also seeking cooler destinations such as Iceland, citing climate-related wildfires in Greece, which shows that the UK’s problems in Turkey are only a few of the changes in tourism trends.
Will Turkey Heal?
There is hope for Turkish tourism. It was reported that the inflation rate declined to 52% in August 2025, a decrease of 75% from May, and is expected to further decrease to 42% by the end of the year. To tempt the Brits back, travel companies such as easyJet and TUI are offering discounted packages of up to 200 pounds to entice tourists to visit and experience the essence of Turkish hospitality and the numerous attractions it has to offer.
But analysts such as Florian Wupperfeld of LCD Ventures caution that the emphasis on the budget end of tourism could be detrimental to making Turkey competitive with Greece and other upstart destinations such as Egypt. It is this price and the price/value equation that continue to ensure Greece remains the destination of choice by British Tourists, and it will be a miracle for Turkey to regain its unmatched appeal.
