Tourists find good value in Turkish lira

Turkey’s embattled tourism industry could be on the turn after the Post Office announced sales of the lira were up by nearly half in the first three months of the year compared to the same period in 2016

The country has seen visitor numbers tumble over the last two years as both Islamist and Kurdish terrorists have targeted major cities on several occasions. Since mid-2015 there have been 20 attacks, including the most recent, a shooting at a nightclub in Istanbul in the early hours of New Year’s Day this year.

The instability, worsened by an attempted coup last year, prompted tour operators to pull out of the country and British visitors to dry up. President Erdogan’s controversial victory in the polls this week, concentrating further power in his hands, is likely to add to the consternation.

However, it has also meant that there have been bargains to be had at resorts unaffected by the trouble, such as Bodrum, above, and Marmaris. The Foreign Office only advises against travel to some of the south-east bordering with Syria and Iraq.

In a new Holiday Money Index report, the Post Office said sales of Turkish lira were up 46 per cent for the first quarter – second in growth only behind the Indonesian rupiah, up 60 per cent.

It also found that the lira was one of only two currencies in its 40 bestselling to be down against the pound year on year, 14.8 per cent less against sterling. The Malaysian ringgit was the other, down 1.1 per cent.

Hotel rates across Turkey have plunged since 2015, with some as much as 70 per cent cheaper. In a positive sign that the heavy discounts might be working, tour operator Thomas Cook last month said tourists were beginning to return to Turkey.