The booming tourism sector of Turkey is set to witness significant enhancements with the latest updates introduced by major players. One notable advancement is Yandex's launch of comprehensive updates to its mapping service, now equipped with extensive navigation features across major Turkish cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya. This update is expected to cater to both locals and tourists, enhancing their travel experience significantly.
Yandex Maps now presents over 32 thematic collections available in Russian, aimed particularly at serving tourists. These collections can be easily accessed on the application's main screen simply by hovering over the map of the city. Upgrades to the street panoramas are substantial, incorporating more than 16,000 kilometers of new street and infrastructure photos, encouraging virtual explorations of Turkish cities.
These detailed images allow users to view landmarks, find building entrances, and explore both vehicular and pedestrian routes prior to their travels. The revisions extend to public transport as well, with Yandex marking over 51,000 stops throughout the country and offering navigation through more than 2,000 public transport routes, including ferry options available in Istanbul and Izmir.
Notably, detailed floor plans for 110 shopping centers and five major airports—located in Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, and Antalya—have also been made accessible. Alongside this, the service highlights over 500,000 parking spots and convenient drop-off points close to tourist attractions. The team has even refreshed data concerning the 44,000 kilometers of roads throughout Istanbul, incorporating traffic signals and speed limit information, which are factored in during route planning.
On the airline front, Russian low-cost carrier Pobeda has rolled out attractive discounts for travelers as part of its recent promotional campaign titled "Again, Blin, Sale." The airline offers discounts of 15% on no-baggage fares and 20% on other remaining options. This promotion arrives just before the pancake week, setting the stage for varied travel opportunities.
The bargains appear to be well-received, with round-trip prices from Moscow to Dubai starting around 22,500 rubles when using promotional codes, significantly less than competitors such as Utair or Ural Airlines, which exceed 29,000 rubles. Although fares tend to rise for April, there are still considerable savings to be had during special sale days, with some prices hitting 31,000 rubles.
Pobeda remains particularly competitive for trips to Istanbul, with return flights priced from 15,000 rubles during March but seeing increases to around 24,000 rubles by April. For travelers targeting Antalya, cheap flight options during early summer present another opportunity, with tickets as low as 35,000 rubles round-trip. Comparatively, the heightened costs from traditional carriers such as Ural Airlines and Turkish Airlines peak at 41,000-42,000 rubles.
While initial offers appear competitive, it's important to note fluctuations—some days, Pobeda's promotional prices fall short when compared against regular carriers or other low-cost alternatives. For domestic travel, prices for options to Sochi hover around 21,500 rubles with the national airline FSI appearing just slightly higher.
These developments reflect Turkey's commitment to improving its tourism infrastructure, tapping technology and competitive pricing to attract more visitors. The enhanced mapping service by Yandex should facilitate smoother travels for both domestic and international tourists alike, offering the necessary support for exploring the rich culture and landscapes of Turkey.
With affordable travel deals and updated services, Turkey's tourism sector seems poised for recovery and growth, stimulating economic activities during peak travel seasons. This current trend gives travelers the unique chance to visit stunning urban centers and breathtaking landscapes across Turkey, signaling bright prospects for the country's tourism industry.