Jolly's Chairman of the Board, Mete Vardar, CEO Mert Vardar, and other department managers convened with representatives of the economic and tourism press at Civar Restaurant in Istanbul for the season evaluation. The meeting covered domestic tourism trends, industry challenges, and Jolly's strategies for 2024.
36 additional high-and hotels into its portfolio
As of mid-2024, Jolly executives reported a 30 percent increase in passenger numbers and a 120 percent rise in revenue. This year, Jolly has increased its high segment hotel portfolio with 36 new deluxe properties.
"June did not meet expectations"
Mete Vardar noted that Türkiye aims to attract 60 million foreign tourists and generate $60 billion in revenue from tourism this year. "May was successful, but June did not meet expectations. During the recent holiday, the southern and Aegean coasts were filled with Turkish vacationers. We sold three to four times our usual capacity during this period. We can say that Turkish vacationers saved the holiday season. Due to the EU Cup and rising prices, demand for international travel has decreased, so we continue our campaigns under certain conditions," he stated.
"We took three to four times more bookings in this holiday than previous one"
Vardar reiterated Türkiye's target of attracting 60 million foreign tourists and generating $60 billion in tourism revenue this year. "May was successful, but June did not meet expectations. The recent holiday period saw Turkish vacationers filling the southern and Aegean coasts. We sold three to four times our usual capacity during this period. We can say that Turkish vacationers saved the holiday season. Due to the EU Cup and rising prices, demand for international travel has decreased, so we continue our campaigns under certain conditions," he added.
Special campaign for the summer season
Mert Vardar, CEO of Jolly, highlighted the success of the early booking campaign, noting its positive impact on guest satisfaction and the strong demand in the domestic market. "We have prepared a special campaign for the summer called 'Summer Opportunities' to offer unique deals for those who missed early booking or want a second vacation. Everyone deserves a holiday," he said.
Reaction to the Increase in departure tax
Mete Vardar also addressed current issues, commenting on the potential increase in the departure tax from 150 TL to 1500 TL. "This is like saying 'don't go abroad.' It imposes a cost of up to 6000 TL for a family of four. We have heard that the regulation is postponed for review until October, and we hope it will not be implemented. While we facilitate everything for visitors coming to Turkey, we should not hinder the travel freedom of Turkish citizens abroad," he concluded.