Purpose

To examine whether there is a difference between the
Russian tourist groups visiting Turkey, Antalya, using two sets of
data collected in August 2007 and July 2011.
Methodology

Questionnaires developed by researchers and employing
drop-and-collect method. There are two studies utilized for
the purpose of this study. These studies are Birdir (2007),
“Segmenting tourist market based on benefits sought from a
summer holiday: A study in Antalya” and Bal (2012), “The
relationship between tourists’ satisfaction, complaints and
their tendency to come back: A Study on Tourists Visiting
Antalya.”
Results

There seems to be some major differences between the
Russian tourist groups visiting Antalya, Turkey between 2007
and 2011.

Since mids of 80’s, Turkey has been experiencing a
tremendous growth in Tourism Industry

Whereas the number of tourist visiting Turkey was a
mere 2.6 million in 1985, this number has been
reached to 31.7 million in 2012. Turkey, nowadays, is
the 6th largest tourist receiving destination/county
in the world.

Tourism income, on the other hand, has been rised
respectively, and reached to $29.4 billion
compared to $1.5 billion in 1985.

Russian tourists are now the second largest group
visiting Turkey (Germans are number one) and in 2012,
number of Russian tourist visiting Turkey has been
reached to 3.6 million (German tourists- 5 million)

Comparing this number to the mere 105,000 Russian
tourist in 2001, it is easy to see the impressive growth in
only almost one decade.

Today Russian tourists are a very crucial part of the
Turkish tourism industry; therefore, understanding the
demographic and other changes in this group is
important for the future of the Tourism industry in
Turkey.
Demographics of Russian tourists visiting Turkey 2007/2011
2007
F
Sex
Male
Female
Not specified
Total
Income level
Low
Below average
Average
Above average
High
Not specified
Total
Accupation
Academician
Self-employed
House wife
Worker
Officier
Retired
Student
Unemployed
Manager
Other
Not specified
Total
2011
2007
%
F
69
112
2
183
37,7
61,2
1,1
100
39
73
112
65,2
34,8
100
4
9
125
40
2
3
183
2,2
4,9
68,3
21,9
1,1
1,6
100
17
73
21
1
112
15,2
65,2
18,8
0,9
100
5
20
8
13
55
2
33
1
32
11
3
183
2,7
10,9
4,4
7,1
30,1
1,1
18,0
0,5
17,5
6,0
1,6
100
3
9
24
24
4
16
4
16
12
112
2,7
8,0
21,4
21,4
3,6
14,3
3,6
14,3
10,7
100
Age
20 and below
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-59
60 +
Not specified
Total
Marital status
Single
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Live togather
Not specified
Total
Education level
Elementary
High school
University
Masters
Not specified
Total
2011
%
F
%
33
45
52
35
12
2
4
183
18,0
24,6
28,4
19,1
6,6
1,1
2,2
100
11
50
29
16
4
2
112
9,8
44,6
25,9
14,3
3,6
1,8
100
53
105
3
7
12
3
183
29,0
57,4
1,6
3,8
6,6
1,6
100
37
60
3
8
4
112
33,0
53,6
2,7
7,1
3,6
100
3
36
125
15
4
183
1,6
19,7
68,3
8,2
2,2
100
8
18
83
3
112
7,1
16,1
74,1
2,7
100




More than %68 of the tourist joined the study in 2007 were
“university” graduates. “High” school graduates, on the other
hand, were %19,7. In 2011, university graduates were %74,1
and high school were %16,1.
It was found that, in 2007, %61,2 of the tourist joined the study
were “women” and %37,7 were “men.” In 2011, these
numbers were %34,8 “women” and %65,2 “men” respectively.
Occupations of the tourist in 2007 were found to be; %30,1
“officer”, %18 “student”, %17,5 “manager” and %10,9 “selfemployed.” On the other hand, in 2011, the occupations
were %21,4 for both “workers” and “officers”’, and %14,3 for
both “manager” and “student.”
Income levels of the tourist in 2007 were found to be %68,3 for
“middle incomers” and %21,9 for “above middle” income
groups. In 2011, the “middle incomers” were found to be
%65,2 and “abve middle” income group to be %18,8.

Russian tourists seem to prefer quality
accommodation establishments when
they have holiday in Turkey.

In 2007, %59 and in 2011, %58,9 of the
tourists stayed at “5-star” hotels.

Five star hotels were followed by 4-star
hotels (%27,3 in 2007 and %27,7 in 2011
respectively).
In 2007, sources of information for Russian
tourist were “travel agencies- %52,5”,
“friends-%45,4”, “internet-%33,9”, “family%18,6” and “colleauges-%15,3”
respectively.
 In 2011, information sources seem to
change dramatically. “Internet”, not
suprisingly, was number one information
source with %44,6. This was followed by
“travel agencies- %33,” and “family/friends14,3.”


Package tours are the major holiday
product the Russian tourists prefer to buy
for holidays in Turkey.

In 2007, %87,4 of the Russian tourist used
package tours to have holiday in
Antalya, Turkey.

In 2011, %92 of the Russian tourists
preferred package tours.
Holiday planning periods seem to change
for Russian tourists in 4 years dramatically.
 While the major holiday planning period in
2007 was “1-4 months (%37,2) before the
holiday “, the major holiday planning
period was “1-2 weeks (%43,8) before the
holiday” in 2011.
 Tourists seems to prefer last minute systems
more, probably for better deals. Vast use of
internet for holiday purchases may be the
reason for this drastic change.

2007
Satisfaction level
Not satisfied at all
Not satisfied
Neither satisfied nor not satisfied
Satisfied
Highly satisfied
Not specified
Total
F
2011
%
1
4
48
79
41
10
183
0,5
2,2
26,2
43,2
22,4
5,5
100
F
1
1
19
46
45
112
%
0,9
0,9
17,0
41,1
40,2
100
Study shows that %43 of the tourist visiting
Antalya, Turkey in 2007 were “satisfied”
and %22.4 of them were “highly satisfied”
with their holiday. In total, %65.6 percent
of the tourist indicated satisfaction with
their holiday.
 This satisfaction level seems to be highly
increased in 2011, totaling %81,3 percent
(%41,1 “satisfied” and %40,2 “highly
satisfied” ).


In 2007, %76 of the Russian tourists indicated
that they wanted to have another holiday
in Antalya in the future.

In 2011, %91,1 of the Russian tourists wanted
another holiday in Antalya.

This eye-cathing increase is probably due to
the quality hotels and service the tourists
experience in Antalya.
Two different studies done to analyze the
Russian tourists visiting Antalya, Turkey
showed some major and important
differences.
 In 2011, Russian tourists seem to be more
satisfied with their holidays and heavily plan
to have another holiday in Antalya, and
prefer internet to plan and buy their holidays
over the traditional systems.
 Tourist industry in Antalya should closely follow
the changes in Russian tourist market as it
became the second largest tourist sending
destination to Turkey.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION