The main thing is the guys: how is family tourism developing in Antalya
With the onset of the summer season, Turkey has once again confirmed its status as one of the most popular destinations among Russian tourists. According to an analytical study by the Anex tour operator, residents of 594 Russian cities fly to this country in 2025. For the summer season, more than 99% of tourists choose the all-inclusive system, while 83% prefer five-star hotels. Business representatives point out that almost half of summer tourists from Russia travel with children. What new things are being offered to Russians in Antalya — in the Izvestia article.
The most sought-after destinations
Antalya remains the most sought-after region of Turkey, according to a study by the tour operator. The Russian cities of Astrakhan, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Krasnoyarsk, Minvody, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Perm, Orenburg, Samara, Saratov, Sochi, Tyumen, Ufa, Chelyabinsk and both capitals are connected with the Mediterranean resort by direct flights. Tourists are attracted to the province not only by the city of the same name, but also by resorts such as Kemer, Belek, Side and Alanya, which are so popular with Russians.
View of Antalya city, Turkey
At the same time, tour operators emphasize that the era of burning tours has sunk into oblivion. There are virtually no such offers left on the market due to the new approach to booking. Rare urgent options are usually associated with force majeure for customers who have previously bought a tour.
In 2025, Turkey continues to invest not only in the hotel infrastructure, but also in improving the service at the arrival stage. One of the notable steps is the launch of the expanded Premium Lounge service at Antalya Airport, which includes accelerated passport and customs control, waiting in the lounge area and other privileges.
The concept of family comfort
Modern Turkish hotels are increasingly moving away from the universal "for everyone" format towards niche concepts aimed at specific categories of guests, says Victoria Khudaeva, head of the PR service of the Anex tour operator. According to her, in comparison with the May holidays, the share of tourists with children increases significantly in the summer season and accounts for 43.1% of the total number of bookings.
The Turkish hospitality industry as a whole relies on family vacations. New family-oriented hotels are becoming more and more popular, the head of the ATG Marketing department (they own Selectum hotels) told reporters at a meeting with reporters Vladislav Fomin.
The main features of such hotels are spacious rooms, including family suites with several rooms, a kitchen area and a balcony; the separation of zones for adults and children — from bedrooms to restaurants. An important part of the offer is animation: mini clubs by age, teen zones, children's discos, show programs and master classes. The competitive advantage of the new concept is the safety of recreation: water slides with soft surfaces, heated pools, babysitters and pediatricians on site. Customer-oriented players also think about the convenience for parents: spa centers, fitness, bars and lounge areas, while children are busy with animators. Meals in family hotels are focused on children's preferences: separate baby food corners, a diet menu.
This approach makes rest comfortable and safe, and most importantly, it eliminates the need for parents to constantly seek a compromise between their desires and the needs of the child, the authors of the idea believe. Fomin stressed that in Turkey, many hotel chains offer substantial discounts for children when booking.
Smart Guide
Digitalization is rapidly penetrating the hotel service.
"Today, guests of the new concept hotels can place an order using a QR code using a smartphone - the drink will be delivered to the vacationer faster, as online ordering optimizes the work of the staff," says Fomin.
Another important innovation of the new generation of hotels, for example, Selectum Colors Side and Selectum Family Resort Belek, is that all issues that arise can be resolved through a Russian—language chat in a regular messenger. The digital "hotel manager" will write to the guest himself and ask if everything is fine, arrange a towel change, unscheduled cleaning and start performing other tasks.
What to see in the region
These places appear in the chronicles of several empires, and life was in full swing here even under the Greeks and Romans. Past eras have left majestic ruins — traces of advanced civilizations of the past. The ruins of an ancient city have been preserved in Side. A fragment of the temple of Apollo is admired. Another miracle of ancient architecture is the partially preserved Nympheum fountain. It is located opposite the main gate to the old town, outside the citadel. It is a three-storey building with a large swimming pool framed by large Corinthian style columns.
The ancient ruins of Perga (one of the largest ancient cities in the region), or Termessos, are also popular. This settlement was abandoned by the inhabitants after an earthquake in the 3rd century.
Ruins of Perge
The Green Canyon— an artificial reservoir that arose after the construction of a hydroelectric power station on the Manavgat River, 40 km from Side, is also interesting. The depth here exceeds 130 m, the bowl of the "pool" is surrounded by high cliffs — an amazing postcard view of the landscape is given by the azure color of the water. We do not recommend swimming here — the water is cool all year round (about 12 °C). But it is an ideal place for fishing from a yacht. The canyon is teeming with trout.
It is worth seeing both Duden Waterfalls (12 km from Antalya) and Kurshunlu (19 km from the city).
Walking around the center
Antalya's old town is called Kaleici, which is a cozy historical center with narrow, clean streets, small houses built sometimes directly above artifacts, and balconies surrounded by greenery. There are many small hotels and tiny gardens with a kaleidoscope of flowers. The famous Hadrian's Gate, a triumphal arch dedicated to the Roman Emperor, is located here. One of the best views of the city marina is from the observation deck of the Hidyrlyk Tower. You can go down the ancient stone staircase "Forty steps" to the pier. The main thing is not to fall: due to the abundance of tourists, the natural surface has turned into a smooth skating rink. There is a picturesque marina and restaurants below. And on the north side there are numerous hotels, shops and the Republic Park.
Antalya is a shopping city. Traders on the market accept lira, dollars and euros as payment. The most profitable payment option is in lira. In the city's shopping malls, you can find products from well-known brands. Handmade leather goods, as well as oriental sweets, deserve attention in the markets.
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