“Fires, earthquakes and inflation are putting tourists off Turkey,” The Economist wrote on September 4.

The publication described a growing crisis enveloping the country’s tourist industry, essential to Ankara for the FX revenues it generates—tourism receipts officially accounted for 12% of Turkish GDP last year. bne IntelliNews and some other media with a heavy focus on Turkey have been increasingly warning of the threat posed to the country's standing in international tourism by mounting ills, including also difficulties posed by worsening heatwaves, bringing "edge of survival" temperatures, and drought. The story looks set to gain expanding coverage from big hitters of international media.

For the fifth year in a row, Turkey has suffered huge numbers of summer wildfires across great swathes of its territory. The areas worst hit, along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, are the most vital to its “sun, sea and sand” holiday business.

This year, meanwhile, the Aegean has felt hundreds of earthquakes, adding to anxieties that a really big one is not far around the corner.

Rampant inflation and vendors, who increasingly turn out to be cash-only or card payment scam merchants, as reported by bne IntelliNews in early August, are increasingly giving international visitors cause to question whether Turkey is a “budget destination” anymore. Even Turks are reportedly more and more heading to Greek islands rather than accept the prices demanded for domestic holidays.

“Tourists, both domestic and foreign, are increasingly choosing all-inclusive resorts, which set their prices months in advance and work alongside tour operators on economies of scale, over smaller hotels and self-catering accommodation, which are being squeezed,” reported The Economist.

The trend is a painful one for restaurateurs, independent tour guides and shopkeepers, as well as smaller hoteliers. They struggle to remain competitive.

The value of the lira may be falling, making the exchange rate appealing on paper, but when the bill comes, the depreciation is outweighed by inflation, noted the publication’s report.

“Prices outside the hotels have increased rapidly,” Mustafa Deliveli, a hotel owner in Marmaris, is quoted as saying. “I notice that guests are spending more time in the hotel rather than outside.”