Struggling with low consumer interest, hotels provide discounted offers to entice vacationers during the holiday season
In an effort to stimulate occupancy and cater to local travelers amid fluctuating demand patterns, hotels in Istanbul are providing **aggressive discounts** during the summer season. This strategic move aims to ensure full bookings when international arrivals fluctuate and to compete against shoulder season pricing elsewhere.
Key reasons for these discounts include seasonal pricing strategies, boosting domestic tourism, competition and marketing campaigns, and economic factors and pricing trends. Hotels often adjust rates to attract different traveler segments outside peak international tourist periods, making summer an opportune time to target domestic tourists with discounts.
Domestic tourists form a significant proportion of stays in Turkey. For instance, in early 2025, domestic tourists accounted for a large share of overnight stays, making it strategic for hotels to offer attractive discounts to this segment and maximize occupancy. Some hotel chains and platforms run targeted summer sales with substantial discounts (up to 35% or more) and loyalty program incentives to encourage early bookings by both domestic and international travelers.
Recent data show slight decreases or stabilization in hotel prices in Istanbul, reflecting competitive pricing environments aiming to attract price-conscious travelers, especially locals looking for affordable summer vacations.
Across Turkey, hotels are slashing rates to revive summer demand due to domestic tourists pushing back against soaring prices. For key markets like Europe and Russia, discounts range from 10 percent to as much as 30 percent. Social media influencers have begun sharing receipt breakdowns online, shedding light on the aggressive discounting tactics.
Food and beverage services play a crucial role in shaping the overall tourism experience, particularly for European and Russian visitors. Significant discounts are still present in July and August this year, even though they were common last year by July. The pricing policies of restaurants and beach venues in tourist hotspots are increasingly influencing travel decisions.
Even the most luxurious hotels have had to join the discount wave this year. Hotels in Turkey are continuing to expand their early booking campaigns to attract cost-conscious holidaymakers. However, the tourism performance in Turkey this summer is lagging behind last year’s, according to Hamit Kuk, the chief adviser at the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB).
Conflicts such as the war between Russia and Ukraine have led to a significant drop in tourist numbers from both countries. Additionally, the war between Israel and Iran is adversely affecting the flow of tourists from those regions.
In conclusion, hotels in Istanbul provide aggressive discounts during summer to fill rooms by appealing strongly to domestic tourists, who represent a reliable market segment, ensuring steady revenue while adjusting to seasonal travel dynamics and competitive pressures.
- To capitalize on domestic tourism and adapt to seasonal travel patterns, luxury hotels in Istanbul are providing significant discounts during the summer season, as part of marketing campaigns and economic adjustments aimed at attracting price-conscious travelers.
- In an attempt to boost domestic tourism and compete against shoulder season pricing elsewhere, strategically slashed rates by hotels in Istanbul are enticing locals seeking affordable summer vacations, contributing to a stable revenue stream for the hospitality industry amid political and economic uncertainties.
