Hotel occupancy rates in Turkey reached 61.5 percent in May, marking an 8.3 percent increase, according to the Turkish Tourist Hotels and Investors Association's (TÜROB) country performance report for May 2017.

STR Global, a research company, disclosed the country performance report for Turkey. Although hotel occupancy rates in Istanbul rose 15.7 percent, it could not escape being "the most affordable destination" in Europe in terms of prices. Meanwhile, the European average has risen, including cities that have had security problems such as Brussels, Paris and London.

Hotel occupancy rates in Turkey in May 2017 by 8.3 percent and reached 61.5 percent when compared to the same month last year. The rate had stood at 56.8 percent in May 2016.

Hotel occupancy rates in the first five months of the year rose 6.3 percent when compared to the same period last year, increasing to 55.4 percent from 52.1 percent. However, Turkey continued to be the country that suffered the biggest loss in room revenue during this time. Room revenues decreased 23 percent to an average of 60.10 euros. Last year, this figure was 78 euros.

The double-digit rise in hotel occupancy rates in Istanbul, one of the leading cities in terms of Turkish tourism, was striking. Hotel occupancy rates in Istanbul in May 2017 increased by 15.7 percent compared to the same period of the previous year and stood at 64.4 percent. This rate was 55.6 percent in May 2016.

Average Daily Rate (ADR) dropped to 76.8 euros from 102.8 euros in May 2016, marking a 25.3 percent decline. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) fell by 13.5 percent from last year and stood at 49.4 euros. Istanbul was named the European destination with the largest income loss in May 2017 due to a 25.3 percent fall in ADR and 13.5 percent fall in RevPar.

Hotel occupancy rates in Istanbul rose to 55.7 percent in from January to May 2017 from 51.1 percent in the same period last year. Also, ADR in the city dropped to 72.80 euros from 97.80 euros while RevPar fell to 40.50 euros from 49.90 euros.