Delta Airlines announced yesterday that it will “suspend” its planned NYC-to-Istanbul service because of travel warnings by the State Department and because demand for the route has dropped off in recent months, following bombings in Istanbul and Ankara. The service was planned to start next month.
The Delta cancellation is only the latest in a series of blows to Turkey’s important tourism industry. Incidents over the past year and uncertainty have led to cancellation of port calls and overnights by a number of cruise lines, and shifting of stops to more remote ports by others.
Although some of the drop in tourist visits to Turkey this year can be blamed on the bombings, some of which took place in popular tourist areas near the Blue Mosque and in Beyoglu, the continuing refugee crisis, with Turkey as the middle point between neighboring Syria and Europe has also played a part.
Hotel Voyage. Beach and Golf Resort. Belek. Turkey.
Turkey is still a bargain. Don’t deny yourself a visit to a beautiful country.
The people are educated. well mannered and courteous.
I’d be back there tomorrow if I could.