Ulkay Atmaca

Turkish hoteliers are hopeful that the country may continue to attract visitors from Europe in the coming months as the energy crisis there could lure people to spend their winters in warmer destinations.

This could be the busiest winter season in the past three years, according to people from the industry.

Stronger than expected foreign visits this year are boosting hopes of hoteliers in Antalya, Turkey's major holiday destination for both domestic and international travelers, for the tourist season next year.

Russian tourists will head to diverse holiday destinations in Turkey this year, said the head of a hotel association on April 8.

The resumption of flights between Turkey and Russia amid strong measures to fight coronavirus set off a flood of tourists, with 80 airplanes full of Russian tourists landing in the resort city of Antalya in just one day, according to local officials.