10 mln to embark on journeys for extended Eid holiday

Nearly 10 million people in Türkiye are expected to travel during the nine-day Eid holiday to visit relatives and friends and take advantage of the prolonged respite, a sector representative has said.

Although the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or the feast of sacrifice, traditionally spans four days, its extension to nine days has prompted many in the country to make travel plans.

Of the 10 million travelers, approximately 3 million are planning vacations, while the remainder will journey to their hometowns to visit close friends and family during the festivities, said Firuz Bağlıkaya, the head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB).

The tourism activity over the nine-day holiday is projected to generate an economic volume of 100 billion Turkish Liras ($3.1 billion), Bağlıkaya said.

As this year's Eid holiday coincides with the end of the school year on June 14, marking the start of what is often termed the "high season" for the tourism sector, an intense surge in tourism activity is expected nationwide.

Bağlıkaya noted that domestic vacation sales have surged as the holiday approaches, with hotel occupancy rates in the Mediterranean and Aegean resorts already surpassing 80 percent.

He also highlighted a significant increase in interest in culture tourism, as there is a marked increase of over 40 percent in cultural tour reservations compared to last year's Eid al-Adha reservations.

"Among our prominent destinations for cultural tours are [the southeastern province of] Mardin, while Sapanca is a preferred destination for those who do not wish to venture far from Istanbul," Bağlıkaya explained.

Turkish holidaymakers also show interest in overseas tours, while issues with Schengen visas have...