Vacation in Turkey may become even more expensive

How much more expensive taxis have become in Istanbul

According to Haberturk, Istanbul has increased fares for public transport and taxis by around 10 percent.

After the increase, the starting fare for a taxi ride rose to 71.94 Turkish lira, or about 720 tenge; the price per kilometer rose to 47.92 lira, or about 480 tenge; and the minimum fare for a short ride is now 230 lira, or about 2,300 tenge, instead of the previous 210 lira, or about 2,100 tenge. The waiting fee also increased to 598.90 lira, or about 6,000 tenge, per hour.

The new rates have been in effect since July 20.

For travelers who are used to getting around by taxi during holidays, transport expenses may rise slightly.

This is not the first price increase that could affect holidays

The fare increase comes amid other changes in the tourism industry. Earlier, Turkey’s Ministry of Trade banned restaurants and cafés from automatically adding service charges and other mandatory service fees to bills. Authorities said the measure was aimed at protecting consumer rights and making pricing more transparent.

However, restaurant industry representatives warned that the removal of such charges could lead to higher menu prices. Yigit Girgin, a representative of the Business Owners Association (POYD) in Bodrum, said at the time that establishments could compensate for lost revenue by raising the prices of food and drinks.

Later, restaurant industry employees proposed legally introducing a system of electronic voluntary tips, but no specific decision has yet been made on the issue.

What this means for tourists

As a result, travelers’ expenses in Turkey may gradually increase in several areas at once. While restaurant industry representatives had previously warned of a possible rise in food prices, transport costs in Istanbul have now officially increased as well.

When planning a trip, tourists should take into account not only accommodation costs but also a possible increase in daily spending on transport and food.