The eagerly awaited New Year spirit has begun to be felt with the opening of Christmas markets in different parts of the world. The New Year is finally here, where you can experience a city in its truest form, from giant Christmas trees to sparkling city decorations, from traditional gifts to local flavors. The delightful Christmas markets that start in mid-November and continue until the end of December in Eastern and Central Europe allow you to discover cities you have never seen before in their lively form, and present cities you know with a different beauty. Christmas markets, where traditional entertainment and city culture are experienced in addition to shopping, are also important in terms of reflecting the culture and entertainment understanding of countries.

Turkey's popular online travel application Obilet has compiled the Christmas markets that start in mid-November and continue until January for travelers. Don't make your decision without checking out the most enjoyable activities, from the oldest Christmas markets in Europe to the cities in Eastern Europe that can be visited without a visa. Join the New Year's fun in Europe by purchasing your flight ticket to destinations with or without a visa through the Obilet application at advantageous prices!

Europe's Most Iconic Christmas Markets in Vienna 

In Vienna, where the oldest Christmas markets in Europe are held, the entire city takes on the Christmas spirit and turns into a giant marketplace from mid-November onwards. From Schönbrunn to Stephans Square, from Karls Square to Belvedere, from Maria-Theresien Square to Hirschstetten, the entire city is filled with markets. Most of the Christmas Markets open as of November 15th and welcome their guests until December 25th. In recent years, some markets have been extended until January 6th to accommodate the tourists coming to the city. Wintermarkt on Riesenradplatz and Schönbrunn are among these. Rathausplat and Stephansplatz can be visited until December 26th, while Belvedere and Weihnachtsdorf on Maria-Theresien-Platz can be visited until December 31st. Don’t leave Vienna without visiting a Mozart or Strauss concert and taking in the real Viennese atmosphere!

Never-ending Fun in Berlin 

Berlin, the capital of Germany, takes on a festive atmosphere with its Christmas markets starting in November. Officially opening on November 27 and continuing until December 31, the Christmas markets are now opening from the beginning of November in order to serve both tourists and locals longer. Potsdamer Platz, which hosts one of the largest markets in the city, opened on November 1. You can enjoy your hot drink, potatoes and sweet waffles on the square, which guarantees enjoyable moments for its guests with its giant 12-meter-high toboggan run every year.

This year, Berlin-based light artist Christopher Bauder's light show with more than 100.000 lights offers a different experience among the fir trees. Christmas food and hot drinks at Uber Platz, fire shows, light and art installations at the historic Christmas market on Revaler Strasse, ice skating and tobogganing in Grünau and countless other attractions await you in Berlin.

Capital of Christmas: Strasbourg

One of the most delightful cities in France, Strasbourg, shines brightly with the Strasbourg Christmas Market held every year between November 25 and December 24. These events, which are one of the oldest Christmas markets in both France and Europe, offer not only shopping and a feast of lights, but also the city’s rich cultural past and food culture. Also known as the “Capital of Christmas” and established since 1570, the city’s largest Christmas market, Christkindelsmärik, promises a true Christmas market experience with its giant Christmas tree, mulled wine, Flammekueche, as it is locally known, and Alsatian sweets.

For Those Who Want to Feel the Christmas Spirit to the Fullest

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, hosts one of the most enchanting Christmas markets in Europe every year. The city's biggest event, which will be open from November 26 to January 6 this year, welcomes visitors with gifts and flavors made with traditional arts. Prague, one of the European cities where winter is most beautiful, makes its visitors experience the Christmas spirit to the fullest with its fairytale atmosphere. Prepare yourself for the freezing cold of Prague, especially in the evenings, and enjoy an unforgettable holiday.

Christmas Markets You Can Visit Without a Visa

Star of Eastern Europe: Belgrade 

Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, offers a warm atmosphere to both city residents and visitors with its Christmas Market held between November 20 and January 6. Belgrade, which can be visited without a visa and has therefore seen high demand from Turkey in recent years, offers a perfect opportunity to discover the magic of Eastern Europe. The most important feature of the Christmas market held in the Novi Sad district of the city is that it is the oldest Christmas market in the country. You can have a pleasant time with local foods and souvenirs in the market, where a choir singing Christmas songs under a giant Christmas tree accompanies you in the background. Don't forget to dress warmly if you decide to go to one of the coldest cities in Eastern Europe.

A sparkling Podgorica 

Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, is one of the places that has received many visitors from our country recently with its visa-free transportation, unique nature and culture. This delightful city takes on a completely different atmosphere with the approach of the new year. The market, which will be open from December 1 to January 6 this year, is enough to warm you up with its warm atmosphere despite the cold weather in December. With the advantageous flight tickets you will buy from Obilet, you can experience the joy of Montenegro, which does not yet require a visa, in the brightest form of the city.

Another State of Eastern Europe: Skopje

If you haven’t had the chance to see Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, before, the Christmas markets offer a great opportunity to see it at its most colorful. You can explore this beautiful city while doing your New Year’s shopping at the city’s largest Christmas market, which is set up every December and is open until December 31st. You can discover Macedonia’s traditional handicrafts and cuisine at the Skopje Christmas Market, which is at the forefront of visa-free Christmas markets. You can witness Skopje at its most beautiful on the bridges over the Vardar River, which runs through the city center, visit the Archaeological Museum, visit the city’s most bohemian venues in the Debar Maalo district, and relax in Karposh, a relatively quieter area. If you want to visit the Turkish Bazaar, which is located right in the city center, you can see Turkish and Balkan restaurants serving traditional food, as well as Ottoman inns, baths, and caravanserais.

Longest Christmas celebration in Tbilisi

Compared to other Eastern European cities, Christmas starts late and is celebrated for a long time in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, where the fun begins at the beginning of December, combines with other religious holidays in the country and continues until the end of January. Tbilisi, which follows the Julian calendar and therefore officially celebrates Christmas on January 7, hosts one of the biggest celebrations in Eastern Europe on the night of December 31. The sparkling atmosphere of Tbilisi Freedom Square begins this year with the installation and lighting of the traditional Christmas tree on December 13 and continues until the end of January with the rich flavors of Georgian cuisine, handmade gifts and hot drinks.

Source: HORECA TREND and Obilet

Julia Simpson, President of the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) Emphasizing that Turkey's performance is a global success story, he said, "This success did not happen by chance, but with Turkey's spirit, vision and cooperation. Turkey is a global success story."

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek He stated that Turkey is an important and fast-growing economy in the world and said, “We have come a long way in tourism and we cannot thank you enough. In 1980, we did not have a place in world tourism, but now we are among the top 5 countries in the world.”

Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye Cevdet Yılmaz Underlining that tourism is a sector with high economic value, he said, “Tourism is a sector with an economic size of 15,5 trillion, and is expected to provide employment for 430 thousand people. As Turkey, we want to get a bigger share of this pie. We have a target of 61 million tourists and 61 billion dollars of income. We will achieve our target.”

Tourism Investment Forum (TIF 2024), organized by the Tourism Investors Association (TTYD) and bringing together all stakeholders of the tourism ecosystem, started in Istanbul. Bringing together all parties of the global tourism ecosystem, which has a value of 10 trillion dollars, TIF 2024 started with the opening speech of TTYD President Oya Narin.

“2033 Billion Dollars of Tourism Revenue for 132 Should Not Be Our Dream, But Our Reality”

TTYD President Oya Narin stated that they believe the platform will make Turkey a leader in global tourism investments and said:

“According to the reports of the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC), the tourism and travel ecosystem, which reached 2023 trillion dollars in 9,5, is expected to increase by over 2033 percent to 50 trillion dollars in 15,5. Within this ecosystem, Turkish tourism hosted 100 million tourists in the 57th year of our Republic and brought 56 ​​billion dollars of income to our country. The sector, which is one of the top 5 destinations in the world, is taking firm steps towards the target of 2024 million tourists and 61 billion dollars of income for 60. Turkey is a tourism country from top to bottom with its location, climate, natural and historical beauties. The point and position Turkey has reached today is an example to many countries. I think that our country has no rival in terms of its natural beauties and the opportunities it offers. Indeed, all national and international tourism stakeholders are aware that our sector is the fastest growing sector in the world and that Turkey is a country of opportunities. Our country is preparing a new strategic plan for this period and is opening up new areas for investors. We are excited and motivated to take part in growing tourism with a macro and micro scale plan. In this context, evaluating our country's current tourism inventory better, increasing capacity utilization, 365 days of tourism, Anatolian step by step tourism, realizing sea tourism in all areas of our coastline of over 8.000 km, creating and implementing tourism specialization zones as in the industrial sector that supports these, and tourism that will reach 2033 billion dollars and 132% of GDP in 7 should not be our dream but our reality. This great potential that Turkey has offers wide opportunities in our country to global tourism players, especially on the financial side. In this respect, we invite investment funds, international financial institutions, national and international brands that have invested in Turkey and brands that have not yet come to Turkey, corporate investors and all our friends interested in tourism to share the opportunity to grow together in tourism in Turkey.

“We have full confidence that Turkey will further increase the momentum it has gained”

The following were noted in the speeches made at the opening of TIF 2024:

Akbank Board Member and General Manager Kaan Gür: 

“Our country’s geographical riches, historical heritage and culture have continued to host millions of guests for years. The developments in the sector and the successes we have achieved also reveal our determination to work in this area. I believe that taking Turkish tourism even further is our common goal. As Akbank, we see supporting the tourism sector and ecosystem as our primary goal. I would like to emphasize that we will continue our work without interruption in order to protect our country’s position in tourism. We continue this journey with all stakeholders of the tourism sector. We have full confidence that we will further increase this momentum that Turkey has gained.”

“As CMB, we will continue to support the tourism sector”

Capital Markets Board Chairman İbrahim Ömer Gönül:

“We are aware that tourism is of critical importance for our country’s economy. The number of tourists coming and the income generated are important. As the Capital Markets Board, we have many instruments that will serve the tourism sector. We will continue to support the sector. We sincerely hope that our tourism companies will continue to make public offerings so that they can be traded on the stock exchange. We believe that public offerings, development and global recognition in tourism are of great importance.”

“We are always by your side as a stakeholder and partner of the tourism sector”

Istanbul Governor Davut Gul:

“We have a sector that has grown from 40 thousand to 50 million bed capacity in 2 years. Despite all the negativities, our country continues to grow by maintaining both political and economic stability. There has been a development for 40 years, but this development has been greater in the last 10-20 years. As this trend continues, the goals and the things we want to do will reach the point we are aiming for. All conditions are in our favor. We are ready to do what needs to be done to pave the way for you. As the Istanbul Governorship, we will follow up on the issues that concern us. We are always with you as your stakeholders and partners.”

“We Will Meet the Needs of the Tourism Sector”

Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Nadir Alpaslan:

“Turkish tourism, which started with Turgut Özal’s initiative in the 80s, has brought this potential to the present day with the entrepreneurial spirit of the sector. We have experienced crises one after another in recent years. We have gone through days when tourism movements dropped to 0. Turkey has taken great steps in tourism in the last 5 years and has reached an important position. We have become the country that has recovered the fastest after the pandemic. We are walking towards our goal of 61 million tourists and 61 billion tourists with sure steps. We have full faith that we will increase these goals and get a much larger share of the world’s tourism pie in the coming years. We aim to increase our wealth by diversifying tourism in every region of our country. The whole world is our competitor, the whole world is our customer. Acting with this motto, we continue our promotional activities all over the world together with TGA without slowing down. We believe that we use this instrument very strongly because we have become the country that makes the most effective promotions. We have all seen together that our country is successful after taking the right steps in tourism and developing the right strategies. We are sure of our goals. We will continue to consult with the stakeholders of the sector and meet all needs. As a Ministry, we will carry out all kinds of work on this issue.”

“We are the second country that attracts the most investment in this geography and our goal is leadership”

Presidential Investment Office President Ahmet Burak Dağlıoğlu:

“The area of ​​focus we are interested in is international direct investments. We find their implementation necessary for our country’s economy. We see that 40% of the current deficit is covered by FDI. Similarly, these investments have a great impact on employment. We are the second country that attracts the most investment in this geography and our goal is to take the lead. Investment in the services sector has been increasing in recent years. We should attract more investment in this area. We are a country that grows with its assets, but investments in service exports have been increasing recently. We earn half of the income we earn from this area through tourism. Tourism and tourism investments are of great importance to our country. We are ready to work more with tourism, emphasizing that Turkey is a connection point for the entire world. There is an area where we will support all kinds of international cooperation and investors and we want to develop this area with you.”

“Türkiye, a Global Story of Beginnings”

Julia Simpson, President of the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC):

“It is great to be back in Istanbul. This city has been and continues to be a city that leads tourism and travel. The tradition of hospitality continues in Turkey and the record-breaking figures show us how well tourists have had their time. This success did not come about by chance, but through Turkey’s spirit, vision and cooperation. Turkey is a global success story. It was the first country to fully recover from the pandemic. It is growing by 5% year-on-year. The 10 billion target has been reached in travel and tourism and it has entered the top 10 countries in terms of investment. It does not seem that Turkey’s appetite will decrease. Turkey, which has experienced one crisis after another in recent years, has an exemplary level of resilience. Everyone should learn from this. Istanbul will become one of the trendiest cities for travel and tourism. We must protect Turkey’s heavenly climate and nature. In this way, it can continue to be a visionary country in the travel and tourism sector.”

In the afternoon of the Tourism Investment Forum, organized for the 4th time this year by the Turkish Tourism Investors Association (TTYD), Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz addressed sector representatives and drew attention to the importance of tourism for Turkey.

Minister Mehmet Şimşek: “We Cannot Thank Our Tourism Professionals Enough”

Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek:

“Turkey is really one of the relatively large economies in the world. We have a population of 90 million. We are larger than 17 European Union countries. Turkey is a large economy by all indicators. We are an important and fast-growing economy. We may not be like China, but we are among the fastest-growing countries in the world. Turkey’s performance is quite good. We prioritized infrastructure, we invested $20 billion in 280 years. We will invest another $200 billion. We are growing fast and our infrastructure is good.

Turkey is also a good region in terms of educated people. When you invest in Turkey, there is no bottleneck in terms of personnel. Don't we have any problems? Of course we do. We have macroeconomic problems and we are implementing a program to solve them. We are currently at a better point than we targeted. Inflation will continue to fall permanently in 2025. We have reduced this and the effect of tourism, namely service exports, is very big in this. The current account deficit remaining at a permanent level means stability in TL. We think it will fall below 2 percent in the coming years. We increased Turkey's net reserves to 105 billion dollars.

We will close this year with an inflation rate of around 44-45. Because there is a rigid situation in service exports. Inflation will continue to fall in 2025. Our cost policy will be tighter and our budget deficit will fall. We want to reduce the budget deficit to below 3 percent. Now we are below the same band as developing countries. The volatility of the Lira against foreign exchange has decreased. Structural transformation is essential to retain the gains we have made. We are better than countries similar to us in terms of industrial accumulation.

Energy transformation is a necessity for us and we are working on this issue. We are investing in our people, trying to make the investment climate healthier, green and digital transformation. The aim of these is to increase our competitive power and increase our growth potential. There are very good works. We will accelerate all these works in 2025. There is no reason to be pessimistic. We do not have a debt problem or a current account deficit problem. We will find permanent solutions. There is no easy solution to inflation. We will work on this with patience and determination. We will succeed in the end and pave the way for you investors. There is great potential in the service sector. We are truly an important player in the global construction sector. We are second only to China. If you pay attention in 50 years, we have implemented half a trillion dollars of projects in 137 countries.

We have come a long way in tourism and we cannot thank you enough. In 1980, we did not have a place in world tourism, but now we are among the top 5 countries in the world. Debt is not an obstacle for Turkey. It is not an obstacle in trade either. We have free trade agreements with 54 countries. We are reaching global markets worth 30 trillion. We will accelerate all reforms in 2025. There is no other way to make all developments permanent. You did a tremendous job even in the most difficult period. What we will do now is to support you.”

Cevdet Yılmaz: “We Need New Approaches, Perspectives and Vision in Tourism, Too.”

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz:

“Tourism is not only an economic activity, but also an extremely important activity in different areas that bring cultures together and increase communication, in order to create a better future for the world. It is also a sector with high economic value. I think that its non-economic dimensions are equally important both for the country and abroad. When I evaluate what is happening in the north and south of us, and again in the world, I hope that this period will be a period in which we all strive for peace.

We, as Turkey, want to get a bigger share of the growth in global tourism. When we look at the developments of the last 20 years, Turkey has become a country in the upper middle income league. We will rise to the ranks of high-income countries. This is a process that we can provide not only with quantity but also with quality. Tourism is a must for this. We also need new approaches, perspectives and vision in tourism. I have full faith that it will be a vision worthy of the 2nd century of our Republic. The point we have reached today is an important point, but we do not see this point as sufficient.

We will achieve our goal of 61 million tourists and 61 billion dollars in revenue. The numbers also show this. We want to raise our goal even higher next year. We want to do this with qualified tourism. We should join hands as the public and private sectors. We have a goal of 2025 billion dollars in tourism revenue for 63,6. I have full confidence that we will achieve this together with you under the leadership of our Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, and we will easily achieve this goal.”

Source: HORECA TREND and Tourism Investment Forum – TIF 2024

According to KPMG’s Global Leisure Trends 2024 report, which examines the current state of the travel and leisure industry and offers insights, trends and strategies for the growth of the sector, the travel and leisure sector is slowly recovering from challenges such as COVID-19, high inflation and economic uncertainty. In fact, it was observed that international visitor numbers increased by 2023-20 percent in some markets in 30 compared to the previous year. It is stated that global investment in the travel and leisure sector is expected to increase by 25 percent this year compared to the previous year, while hotels are reported to have achieved record revenues per available room. It is estimated that global travel and tourism revenues could increase by 2024 percent in 8,3 and reach $1 trillion.

According to the report, which includes views from KPMG experts, the sector is slowly recovering but many challenges remain. Interest rates remain high in most markets, affecting the cost of financing and raising concerns about a potential recession. Consumer confidence, while rising from lows in 2022, remains below the long-term average. Global economic growth is also still lackluster compared to the decade before the pandemic.

KPMG Türkiye Transportation and Tourism Sector Leader and Tax Company Partner Mert Öner In his assessment of the report, he said, “KPMG experts work with companies in the travel and entertainment sector and their investors, suppliers and ecosystem partners in almost every region of the world. They help companies in this sector face challenges, transform and implement applications to grow and develop in challenging environments. With this report, we aim to help executives in the travel and entertainment sector discover the current opportunities. Our experts share their views on four key issues that are on the agenda in the sector. In this way, we offer examples, conclusions and steps that games can apply in their business.”

Industry Focuses on Four Critical Areas

In this environment outlined by the KPMG report, organizations and investors in the travel and leisure sector are looking for new opportunities to achieve growth and build customer relationships. For this reason, the sector focuses on four key areas. These are: inorganic growth, performance improvement, use of technology and customer focus.

1. Inorganic Growth: The report states that there has been a decline in M&A (merger and acquisition) activity in the sector compared to the peak in 2021, but the market is showing signs of revival. With M&A trends particularly prominent in China, India, Japan and Germany, the sector continues to evaluate its growth potential through strategic acquisitions and collaborations.
2. Performance Improvement: KPMG’s report also shows that companies in the sector are focusing on performance improvement efforts. According to the report, businesses in the travel and leisure sector need to do more with less. While the sector is under pressure to grow, enter new markets and innovate, it is also struggling with rising costs and inflation. Despite the pressure of rising costs, companies are looking to explore opportunities to simplify, modernize and optimize their businesses.
3. Technology-Enabled Transformation: It seems difficult for technology to replace the human touch in the travel and leisure sector today. But can these technologies improve services with data? In the KPMG report, experts reveal the opportunities and challenges of integrating technology into businesses, including productive artificial intelligence, without losing the human touch. The report offers important tips on how industry players should take steps on their digitalization journey.
4. Customer Focus: As companies in the travel and leisure sector begin to reframe their entire business around the customer, many are finding new ways to increase loyalty. This section of the report explores how leading organizations are creating customer experiences and interactions that drive long-term growth. It highlights that industry leaders are currently focusing on five key areas of differentiation: personal touches, progressive benefits, technology integration, award-winning events, and services beyond travel.

Full report here .

About KPMG

KPMG operates in 1867 countries with a network of member firms dating back to 143, with over 265 thousand employees. It provides consultancy services to many sectors such as financial services, consumer products, automotive; industrial sectors such as food, retail, energy, telecommunications, and chemicals. KPMG Turkey, on the other hand, has been providing sector-specific services to over 1982 thousand companies from every sector with approximately 1.700 employees since 4, with its Ankara, Izmir and Bursa offices, as well as its Istanbul headquarters. KPMG Turkey, which became one of the world's centers of excellence in new technologies by receiving the Lighthouse license of the global network in 2020, offers value-creating solutions to its clients. For detailed information www.kpmg.com.tr You can apply to the address.

Source: HORECA TREND and KPMG