Reflections of the Russia-Ukraine War on Turkish Tourism

Abstract

The tourism sector has a fragile structure influenced by numerous internal and external factors such as natural disasters, terrorism, politics, and security. With the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the tourism sector, which had been struggling with the negative effects of the global COVID pandemic in 2019, began to face significant uncertainty. Since both countries are among those that send the greatest number of tourists to Turkey, uncertainties have occurred for the 2020 tourism season. In this regard, the current situation has been analyzed by reviewing 119 news articles and 671 news expressions as part of a study that attempts to disclose predictions for the summer of 2022 by examining the published news content in local and national digital media. According to the data collected, the expressions "reduction in demand, hope, and concern" were observed in February; "demand shortage, alternative tourism, and loss of income" in March; and the expressions "Covid, alternative market, and MIR" were observed in April. Payment facilities, alternative payment options, and the development of an alternative market have also been identified as solution methods. In light of these findings, it is suggested that promotional and marketing activities for domestic tourists and foreign alternative markets be developed so that the tourism sector, which has yet to recover from the COVID pandemic, does not feel the devastating effect of the Russia-Ukraine war.