Travel
77% of Israelis won't travel to Turkey, even for free
Ynet
Published: 20.02.12, 07:18
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35 Talkbacks for this article
1. Israel is not alone in this decision.
Anon ,   Johannesburg   (02.20.12)
Many South Africans have also seen the changes in Turkey in an appalling attitude. Its not that South African don’t want to go there it’s that they fear going there. Turkey is changing from a progressive, modern and democratic state to a totalitarian Islamic state. Very sad.
2. no need
batu ,   turkey   (02.20.12)
Turkey welcomed 32 million tourists from all around the world in 2011 with a % 11 increasing according to 2010 numbers. No need Israeli tourists for Turkey.
3. Dutch are looking elsewhere too
Mike ,   Ams, Netherlands   (02.20.12)
Turkey is no longer a desirable destination for the Dutch either due to the political situation and the islamist stance of the governement. There really is not much to choose from either: all-in resorts full of drunk Russians is about the best you can get. It is a pity because Istanbul is such a beautiful city.
4. Only if you paid me. A lot.
Efrat ,   israel   (02.20.12)
5. to Batu
maurice ,   canada   (02.20.12)
glad to hear you do not need Israeli tourism and hope the same for Israeli technology, since you are a backward country with a backward population, in other words, barbarians!
6. Batu
David Israel ,   New York, USA   (02.20.12)
If what you wrote was right then the Turkish travel agents and hotel owners would not be visiting Israel trying to make deals. As far as I know - based on news that I read in Turkish media Agee months ago - one of the big hotels in Antalya is bankrupt.
7. to maurice
gregory ,   aleppo   (02.20.12)
The close minded people like you cannot be modern, you act on hatred and what israelis actually zionist, tell you. You even don't see in front of your nose. This is the tactic of zionist. Use christians against muslims. Can't you see? I don't think so, but you'll eventually see no matter you are also a jewish.
8. to#5, when was last time israel built f16s locally?
kren   (02.20.12)
or missile ship heybalieda, or numerous defsense projects turkiye is involved in currently israel and ejws cant even dream of in wildest dreams. thats right, its the stuff made in turkey, not imported from usa on defense-aid stamps. try to distinguish, you cant even afford to fund reserves while turkish military is only growing. israel is an utter joke!
9. #2 Let's c how well ur tourism does after Islam kills Kemal!
Yaniv ,   Israel   (02.20.12)
10. to number 2 , BATU
edy ,   MIAMI , USA   (02.20.12)
you should more polite and say ''we need you'' , this will be your best propaganda !!! at list my turkish friends told me ''we want and need you''
11. We go to Turkey every year.
Nick ,   London   (02.20.12)
As a Brit and like most Brits we love Turkey as our favourite holiday destination. The Turkish people are great. Fun and friendly and respectful. Great food and wine and we see people while there from ALL over the world, including South Africa and Holland.
12. viva israel
viva israel ,   uk   (02.20.12)
yes we are going to italy..never go to a muslam country any way. We dont need turky.
13. Snubbing Turkey
graczek ,   Maryland, USA   (02.20.12)
Zionist tourists snubbing Turkey? Advantage: Turkey!
14. # 4
Birdi ,   Israel   (02.20.12)
No amount of money could entice me to visit Turkey. Not now, not ever. There are so many other holiday destinations to visit.
15. your choice
anton ,   ist turkey   (02.20.12)
no one will loose their sleep over this :)
16. To "8":
Hansje   (02.20.12)
So why did you need the South Koreans to develop your future little tank? And do you mean that you built the F16 completely? And why did you need Israel to modernise your M60? And why did you bought the UAV's from Israel. I know you will tell me that you're building now all those items. That's wright ans so does the Iranians, but I'm certain that it's crap. Except buyers froms your surrounding aziatic states I don't see them used by Nato. Turks nowadays seems to me living in a dream world of past Ottoman Empire. Wake up.
17. #11 Sorry, but you're living in a fanatasy land
Michael Redbourn ,   Arad Israel   (02.20.12)
I have lived in several countries and traveled extensively in a great many. I have driven from Germany to Iran and most of Eastern Turkey is still rife with bandits. I also drove from Iran to Mersin in southern Turkey. You stayed in tourist centers and of course people are nice and friendly. If I had to name one country where I had the worst experiences Turkey would easily be #1. I visited Haiti on a cruise ship and thought it was wonderful. But the part of the island that I was on was sealed off from the natives. Enjoy your vacations, but please don't believe you've been to Turkey.
18. Anton
David Israel ,   New York, USA   (02.20.12)
Maybe you don't lose your sleeps over t but the hotel owners, travel agents seem to be losing their sleeps that they are still trying hard to get Israel tourists.
19. # 11
Birdi ,   Israel   (02.21.12)
Weird, you Brits are always looking for cheap holidays.
20. My comments to the Turks in here
Alexander ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (02.20.12)
1) If you couldn't care less about Israel, why are you spewing your hatred for Israel and Jews - IN AN ISRAELI NEWSPAPER? 2) You Turks can only blame yourselves for this situation. It was Turkey that sent a ship to provoke Israel and not vice versa. It is Turkey that interfers with Israel's independence and borders - not vice versa. It is Turkey that cooperates with a terrorist organization hellbent on Israel's destruction - not vice versa. It is the Turks that ardently read Hitler's Mein Kampf - not Israel. It is Turkey who is killing Kurds in Turkey and Iraq. It is Turks that massacred Armenians - a de facto genocide. It is the Turks that maintained an empire over the Middle East and the Balkans for centuries, oppressing Jews, Arabs, Balkans, Greeks, Kurds, Armenians and Europeans. It is Turkey that interfers with Israeli natural gas finds - it's ours and it has nothing to do with Turkey. It is the Turks who elected this Islamo-Fascist called Erdogan and it is Erdogan who pushes for a conflict all the time. Has Israel ever responded with such harsh words against Turkey? And has mighty Turkey backed up its threats with military intervention against Israel? You Turks choose the path of imperialism, hatred, racism, anti-Semitism, conflict and war and pretend to be confused and surprised when Jews/Israelis don't want to go to Turkey. The conflict is in your heads. Stop your hatred and hostility to Israel and the conflict disappears in an instant.
21. I'm not vacationing in hell either
steve from raleigh   (02.21.12)
I don't care if the devil objects.
22. Everybody thinks he's the best ...
AQ ,   Jerusalem   (02.21.12)
... while we're just disgusting humans who keep hating each other. And for what? Nothing! We're only good at war and destroying this planet which we don't even deserve. We're only greedy animals! Each side keeps blaming the other while it's the fault of both. And your comments just show that true peace isn't possible. That's very ... very sad. Good luck!
23. Despicable hatred of Erdogan and his Muslim brothers
Reader ,   World   (02.21.12)
Forget about the news, look at all the talkbacks. That is the real news. Turkey and Israel used to be friendly countries for multiple centuries, thnaks to Erdogan and his government, that is full of hatered toward Jews And Israel. The sad part is when his time is up, his hatred will still be living in Turkey. Where is your Flolita for Syria Erdogan, where is your help boat to your dear Muslim brothers?
24. #13
(02.21.12)
please do not mix politics with replacement theology. it gets really tiring and imbecilic after so many of your posts. you are getting nowhere. hameed aboughaze, iranian
25. #15
(02.21.12)
a couple of months ago as well as last year, the travel agents and tourist ministry of turkey BEGGED israeli to come back. hotels in antalya lost hundreds of thousands of dollars because no israeli would tour and come to turkey. a turkish tourist delegation ran to israel to implose the israeli travel agents to fix this disaster, but nothing could be fixed. nothing. very very few israelis trickled into turkey for only one week and most never came back after last year. cyprus, croatia and the balkans are huge hot destinations for israeli tourists and vacationeers now. these countries are reaping all the benefits turkey's tourism lost. now, turkey is getting mostly arab tourists from the gulf and some arabs from other islamic nations. the european influx has dried up also according to british, swedish and french and german tourism statistics; mostly, all prefer to go to israel and greece, cyprus and spots in the balkan countries. such is life. your president through his childish actions has lost more than he gained as a result. YOU may not care or loose sleep over the missing israeli tourists, but, sir, i can assure you that those hotels in ankara, istanbul, izmir, bodrum and antalya are not very happy. on the contrary. the turkish tourist ministry and the mayors of various turkish tourist hot spots are presently making their way to israel for a second try in convincing the jewish nation's travelers to change course. but it is not working. arab tourists are cheap and stingy with their tips and poor shopping. if you like to get rif raf tourists, be my guests. but i do not see how turkey's tourism can benefit from arabs non spenders. they also do not stay at luxury hotels. so, here's a big difference. ismael aboutbul boca raton florida
26. @11
(02.21.12)
i don't know where you live and where you have been. but, to tell us that turkey is a wonderful destination is just so incorrect. also, i live in bath, england and i know for sure that not too many british vacation in turkey. actually, they prefer israel, israeli beaches and israeli tourist areas like tel aviv, eilat, etc.. i have been to turkey twice and it is very very dirty. the people are rude and they act like barbarians in shops. it is filthy all over in istanbul except for where the tourist spots are. the hotels, most, are very poor quality and service except for the american bought chains. most f the brits i talk to say that israel is their main destination in the middle east including church groups, christian organizations, etc.. after israel, it is croatia, belgrad and places in europe. but turkey is turkey not first place. i think you need to get out more and ask your british people because then you'll see that turkey is very far down the destination for european tourists. israel has the most tourism in the middle east and the biggest influx of visitors in the middle east than any other country there. and there is a very good reason for it. it is beautiful.
27. Bad treatment by Turks
manny ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (02.21.12)
A few months ago some Israeli tourists were detained by the the Turks at the airport in Istanbul. That was the end of the Israeli tourist in Turkey.
28. #7 gregory
solomon ,   bklyn   (02.21.12)
Israelis (or "zionists" as you call them) do not use Christians against Muslims. They don't want to. But if they did, they wouldn't have to do anything, as its the Muslims that are attacking the Christians in many places in the world, especially the ME.
29. Canadian--Been there; Won't Go Again
Lolek ,   Toronto, Canada   (02.21.12)
This Canadian spent a month in Turkey and loved it but won't return until after the return of the Israeli Ambassador. I also disuade others from going to Turkey. And I too am going to Italy for two months this summer.
30. sad to see so much anger / hatred here
Mike ,   London, UK   (02.21.12)
we should not let that islamist infant Erdogan poison the water between Israelis and Turks, which he seems to have succeeded in. Turks should know that Israelis dont have a problem with them, but with their Islamist goverment - if and when they get rid of the Islamists then they can expect warm ties again.
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