Hotel occupancy rate rises in Turkey

By Tuba Sahin </p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – A hotel association on Thursday reported that hotel occupancy rate, revenue per available room (RevPAR) and average daily rate (ADR) for rooms increased annually in Turkey last year.</p> <p>Hotel occupancy rate across the country rose nearly 10 percent year-on-year to 66.2 percent in 2018, according to the Turkish Hotel Association (TUROB) report, based on a survey conducted by data and analysis company STR Global.</p> <p>RevPAR increased to €46.6 ($53.5), up 17 percent while ADR for rooms went up 6.6 percent to €70.4 ($80.9) during the same period.</p> <p>The report showed that Turkey posted the highest increase in hotel occupancy rate and RevPAR among European countries. However, it could not catch the average of Europe.</p> <p>In Europe on average, hotel occupancy rate was 72.4 percent and RevPAR was €114.4 (€128) last year, the report said.</p> <p>Timur Bayindir, the head of TUROB , said the country should focus on congress tourism in order to raise revenues per available room. </p> <p>&quot;We are expecting 10-12 percent rise in both hotel occupancy and average daily rates this year,&quot; Bayindir said.</p> <p>Turkey welcomed 39.5 million foreign visitors in 2018, up 21.84 percent year-on-year, according to the Culture and Tourism Ministry.</p> <p>The country's annual tourism revenue rose 12.3 percent to hit $29.5 billion in 2018, according to the country's statistical authority.