In Istanbul, problems have started in the field of tourism, which are especially felt by small businesses that depend on tourists. Although official statistics on the decline are still scarce, many businesses in popular areas such as Eminenu, Sultanahmet and Beyoğlu report a significant outflow of visitors, which could lead to their closure. Experts point to several reasons, such as the turbulent situation in the Middle East, Turkish inflation and rising prices, which have caused a natural decline in tourists due to bad weather.
According to a report by the Istanbul Provincial Tourism and Culture Authority, the number of foreign tourists who visited Istanbul in December 2023 decreased by only 4% compared to the previous year. However, the situation is different for tourism-related businesses.
Abdullah Bilir, one of the owners of a local restaurant, claims: "Compared to last year, the number of tourists has decreased significantly. Our restaurant used to be full two or three times a day, but now there are very few visitors. Sometimes only large groups come." A similar situation is observed among sellers who specialize in serving tourists.
Vendors in the Atlas Passage, where tourists look for textiles and souvenirs, also complain of a lack of customers. Sinan Yigit, the owner of one of the shops, points out: "There are no tourists now. We're getting to the point where we can't pay the rent for the store." The fall in tourism has been attributed to the low season after the New Year holidays, problems with Turkish inflation and rising prices, which discourages both foreigners and cash-saving locals from shopping. The lack of tourists from Arab countries and Europe is also noted due to the unstable situation in the Middle East. Even if the hot spots are not directly with Turkey, the entire region feels the consequences of this conflict.
