“Ukrainian people are not paid very high nowadays. After the economic crisis, wages regressed to $200 on average. So hikes in tour package prices should be avoided in July and August to keep them coming to Turkey. Over 749,000 Ukrainians visited Turkey last year. This may increase up to 1 million this year if tour package prices are not hiked,” said Association of Tourism Business Leaders of Ukraine (ALTU) head Aleksandr Novikovsky during his visit to the Aegean resort town of Marmaris.

The Turkish tourism sector is struggling amid bilateral tension with Russia and rising security concerns across the country.

Saying that Turkey’s official $6,000 support for every flight carrying tourists into a number of leading touristic destinations is of great importance, Novikovsky added that average ticket prices per person from Ukraine to Turkey have fallen from $180 to $150 thanks to this support.

“When a Ukrainian comes to Turkey with a holiday package worth $500, s/he spends around $200 on shopping on average,” he also said.

YDA Dalaman Airport Foreign Flights General Manager Hamdi Güvenç said only around 5,000 tourists are arriving at the airport in the 18 flights every week.

“Ukraine has been a rising star for us. Many Ukrainians visit our country more than once and continue to come. One of the most crucial targets of our sector is to have loyal customers, like Ukrainians. I believe our sector will overcome its losses soon thanks to loyal customers,” Güvenç added.