Hotel occupancy rate in Turkey slightly up in H1

Hotel occupancy rate across Turkey increased 1.1% year-on-year to 63.8% in the first half of the current year, a report said on Wednesday.  Average daily rate for rooms rose 7.7% to €69.8 ($77.8) during the same period, according to Turkish Hotel Association’s (TUROB) report based on a survey conducted by data and analysis company STR Global.

Revenue per available room across Turkey stood at €44.5 ($49.6) in January-June, up 8.9% from the same period last year.

"Despite the rise in figures, Turkey fell behind Europe average," the association said.

In Europe, the hotel occupancy rate was 69.7%, average daily rate for rooms was €110.6 ($123.3) and average revenue per available room was €77.1 ($85.9), the report added.

It noted that Ireland posted the highest hotel occupancy rate across Europe with 76.1% while Sweden has the highest average daily rate for rooms with €199 ($221.8) in the first half of this year.

According to the latest data from the Culture and Tourism Ministry, the number of foreigners visiting Turkey surged 13.2% on a yearly basis to 18 million in January-June.

The country's tourism revenue reached $12.6 billion during the same period, according to Turkish Statistical Institute.