Hoteliers on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast had hoped for a reprieve in last week’s traffic lights update, but any chance of that is now dashed until the next review in mid-September.
The South Aegean Hoteliers Union told Reuters that in Marmaris alone, about 600 hotels were expected to shut in the next few days due to the UK government’s decision last week.
Union chairman Bulent Bulbuloglu said hoteliers were waiting for “a last chance for the season” but added “most of them will be closed by the first days of September”.
Hoteliers had hoped to continue the season for British tourists until mid-November.
Reuters said Turkish hoteliers had taken loans amounting to £9.95 billion. The industry is still reeling after wildfires around the key areas of Marmaris, Fethiye, Dalaman and Kusadasi forced properties to close early.
