Sep 1, 2009, 13:40 GMT
Antalya, Turkey - The beach at Lara in Turkey's Antalya Province is one of the most popular in the country. There are 21 luxury hotels lining the beach front. One is called the Titanic and looks like a half sunken ship. Another is called the Topkapi and was modelled on the historic palace in Istanbul. The Concorde, as its name implies, looks like the supersonic jetliner.
All of them trade under the name of 'ultra deluxe, all inclusive' hotels and they have everything a tourist's heart could desire such as multiple swimming pools with or without music, a children's area with Ferris wheel, a fine spa and never-ending beaches.
But this summer tourists are counting every penny they have. Sales manager Emir Akcin has spent the last twenty years in the hotel trade and says the future looks uncertain. 'At the moment bookings are fine but we don't known how things will look in the next few months. Our prices have fallen by between 15 and 20 per cent,' he says.
For years Turkey has been one of the most popular tourist destinations for Europeans. Germans in particular were regarded as the engine of the country's tourist industry but that role has been taken over by the Russians. In June this year there were 3,000 more Russians visiting the country than Germans.
A growing number of Turkey's hotels are offering all inclusive packages to their guests. That development has had a knock-on affect on other sectors of the tourist economy such as culture-tourism. 'Our all inclusive guests don't leave the complex as much,' says Emir Akcin. 'They might visit a few shops and have a quick look around, but they're not buying.'
Small shop owners in Antalya's historic castle are well aware of this trend. They say package tourists and the all inclusive system are ruining their businesses.
Jeweller Ali Kalayci can recall the better times: 'Before 2000 it was always full with tourists here at this time of day. The city authorities organised concerts and other activities for them.'
It is 5 pm and the castle is empty. Its walls are home to small shops and there are just a few Russians, Swiss, Germans and Scandinavians dragging themselves around in the heat. None of them look as if they are about to spend a lot of money.
Carpet trader Recep Tuezel is sitting in front of his shop, repairing a Kilim rug. 'Things are very quiet and at the weekends it's absolutely deserted. We've been here a long time and we will survive but the newcomers are doing very badly. Everyone is very concerned.'
Ali Kalayci adds: 'The tourists are not interested in buying small presents like silver chains.' The times when Europeans had plenty of cash to spend are over.
The five star hotels on Lara are doing all right in comparison. They can afford to cut their charges if they need to and offer rooms at 4-star prices. This strategy is helping to attract visitors from Germany, England and the Netherlands. There is also a growing number of tourists from former eastern bloc countries like Russia, Bulgaria and Romania.
Gabi Janos is from Vienna and has been coming to Antalya for the past 17 years. She's noticed the trend of more eastern Europeans choosing to spend time in Turkey. Janos says there are less Germans and Austrians this year and they are spending less because of the economic crisis. 'In the past they used to spend their money without thinking about it. Today, they're saving it. That's why I've chosen an all inclusive deal.'
The 4-star hotels in Alanya and Side cannot afford to lower their prices and many of them have not bothered to open their doors this season. Some of the 5-star establishments have employed inexperienced personnel who are getting paid less.
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