Turkey’s tourism revival will be gradual at best
Subject Risks to Turkey as a low-cost tourist destination. Significance The 2017 recovery in tourism was largely in low-spending visitors from Russia and the Middle East; arrivals from core European markets were still well down. With regional conflicts continuing and more international spats looming, the government may not see the sector as a priority, making even this limited revival short-lived. Impacts Intensified spats with the United States and possible new visa restrictions will increase negative impressions of Turkey. Urban bombings and terror attacks would raise serious questions over security and put a brake on tourism arrivals. Regional conflicts in Syria and Iraq could spill over the border, reducing Turkey’s attractiveness to tourists. Turkey’s appeal to lower-spending Europeans may be offset by the instabilities that caused the lira to deteriorate.