Hot deals persuade Israelis to go to Turkey after all
Antalya hotels offer $199 vacation packages as goodwill gesture to Israelis, manage to draw hundreds to country despite recent calls for boycott
Is it the fact Israelis just cannot resist a vacation package to Turkey for $199, or was it the goodwill shown by Turkish hoteliers that touched a soft spot in their hearts? Whatever may be the reason, hundreds of Israelis were persuaded to book special discounted deals to Antalya since they were first published by various travel agencies less than 48 hours ago.
The package – which includes a flight and three nights at a number of Antalya all-inclusive resorts – was offered by Turkish hotels in an attempt to appease Israelis and curb the widening touristic boycott in response to growing anti-Israeli flare-up in the country.
Shai Dagoga of the Flying Carpet travel agency said that most of the packages have already been booked.
What brought about the change?
"This stems from the price, of course, and in the reality of 2009, cost is something that cannot be ignored. But the greater change is the result of the hotels' willingness to show that they're interested in the Israeli guests, and that their attitude towards us hasn't changed – that they can be hospitable."
Dagoga estimated that Israelis will continue visiting Turkey even after prices go up a bit. "People know that there's no substitute for Turkey. The hatred that people say exists towards us there is no different than in other places… I don't see this destination going to waste," he stated.
Gilad Brovinsky, VP of marketing at the Daka 90 agency, was also thrilled with Israelis' warm response to the special deal. He said that in light of the high demand the company was considering adding more flights and will continue offering the deal in the next couple of weeks.
What do you think changed people's mind regarding Antalya?
"The boycott was very emotional," he said. "Someone insults you and you say, 'I'll show him.' But then people realized that what happened was just a politician paying lip service to public opinion, and that it's the same old Turkey with the same lovely hotels and all-inclusive packages. Emotional considerations made way for rational ones," he concluded.
