Economic crisis hits Turkish holidays: 46% can't afford to travel, survey finds

Turkey's economic crisis is significantly impacting the nation's ability to take summer vacations, with a new survey revealing that nearly half of the population desires a holiday but lacks the financial means. Areda Survey's June "Sociometer" research indicates that 45.9% of Turkish citizens wish to travel but are prevented by financial constraints. Consequently, only 30.3% of respondents plan to take a vacation this summer. An additional 17.7% intend to visit their hometowns or family, while a mere 6.1% cited work commitments as their reason for not planning a holiday.

The economic barriers to vacationing are particularly acute for certain demographics. The survey found that 50.3% of women, translating to one in two, expressed a desire to travel but an inability to do so due to lack of funds. This contrasts with 41.1% among men. While 29% of women plan to vacation, 31.6% of men do.

Age and education level also play a crucial role. Among those aged 55 and above, 50.4% cited economic reasons for not being able to travel, compared to 46.8% in the 35-54 age group and 40.8% in the 18-34 bracket. Conversely, younger individuals and those with higher education report greater vacationing opportunities. For instance, 35.4% of the 18-34 age group plan to take a holiday, a figure that drops to 29.2% for the 35-54 group and 26% for those over 55. Similarly, 41.8% of individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher intend to vacation, whereas only 12.6% of those with primary education or less can afford to do so. The study involved 2,400 participants across Turkey between June 26 and July 6, 2026.