Intourist's charter flights to Turkey see record increase: Alanya prepares for high demand
One of Russia's leading tour operators, Intourist, is launching its charter flight program from 18 different Russian cities to Turkey starting in March. In this context, there is expected to be particularly high demand for the Antalya region, including Alanya.
Alanya, which is a popular destination for hundreds of thousands of Russian tourists every year, is expected to open the season much earlier this year due to a record increase in charter flights and booking requests. The growing demand will create significant activity for hotels and the tourism sector in Alanya.
Intourist, one of Russia's established tour operators, has expanded its charter flight program to Turkey for the summer season of 2025. Starting in March, direct charter flights will be organized from 18 Russian cities to Turkey. There has been a significant increase in early booking requests. According to Daria Domostroyeva, the PR director of Intourist, in an interview with the Russian Association of Tour Operators (ATOR), early booking requests to Turkey have increased 2.5 times compared to last year.
HIGH DEMAND FOR ANTALYA AND ALANYA
Intourist will operate charter flights to Antalya from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Samara, Ufa, Sochi, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, Mineralnye Vody, Nizhny Novgorod, Chelyabinsk, Perm, Tyumen, Astrakhan, Orenburg, and Saratov cities in the 2025 season. The number of tourists coming to Alanya through Antalya is expected to increase significantly with this flight program.
Flights from Moscow to Antalya will be operated daily from March 22, 2025, to October 31, 2025, by AZUR Air. From April onward, charter flights from other cities to Antalya, and thus to Alanya, will also gain momentum.
ALANYA REMAINS A FAVORITE DESTINATION FOR RUSSIAN TOURISTS
Alanya has long been one of the most preferred holiday destinations for Russian tourists. The increasing services provided by accommodation facilities for Russian tourists, as well as the special menus and events offered by restaurants and entertainment venues for the Russian market, further enhance this interest. The 2.5-fold increase in early bookings for the 2025 season indicates the need for further strengthening Alanya’s accommodation and tourism infrastructure.
Tourism sector representatives note that due to the increased demand, hotel occupancy rates in Alanya will rise early, and local businesses will significantly benefit from the season. Additionally, with the increase in booking requests, a significant rise in employment is expected. It is emphasized that Alanya is progressing towards becoming a destination that hosts tourists not only in the summer but throughout the entire year.
