Top Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) in Turkey & Middle East 2024

September 2024: Broad Middle East trends show strong market growth. There’s an increasing focus on mobile apps and platforms for travel bookings, reflecting the region’s high smartphone penetration. Local and regional OTAs are gaining traction, competing with global players by offering specialised services for Middle Eastern travellers.

Turkey’s Travel & Tourism market is projected to grow by 5.37% (2024-2029), resulting in a market volume of US$13,510.00 million in 2029. (Statista)

Turkish travellers are increasingly seeking unique and authentic experiences, moving away from traditional tourist attractions to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations. Turkish OTAs are likely focusing on developing user-friendly mobile interfaces to cater to the increasing use of smartphones for travel bookings. The Turkish domestic tourism market is showing strong growth, with OTAs adapting their offerings to cater to local travellers.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative is driving significant investment in the tourism sector, likely leading to increased OTA activity and innovation. With Saudi Arabia increasingly opening up to international tourists, OTAs are expected to play a crucial role in facilitating bookings for foreign visitors. OTAs specialising in Umrah and Hajj packages are likely to see continued growth and innovation in their offerings. There’s also a growing focus on high-end and luxury travel experiences, with OTAs adapting their platforms to cater to this market.

Overall, the Middle East region especially Saudi Arabia and Turkey, is seeing strong growth in the OTA market. Key drivers include mobile bookings, AI integration, personalised experiences, and a focus on both domestic and international tourism.

As we have done with other regions, we thought it will be useful to have a handy list for the top OTAs in Turkey and the Middle-east. As always with such lists, we will repeat the few caveats:

• Only travel companies that offer standalone hotel bookings as an option in addition to everything else including packages are listed as an OTA. There are increasing overlaps between Wholesalers, Tour Operators and the traditional definition of an OTA and hence the clarifying definition.
• An abundance of options doesn’t always guarantee success and in many cases less is more. Align your strategy with the right OTA partners, as not every OTA will work for your hotel.
• Equally, the industry is ever-evolving, with changes happening all the time. Our list is curated based on industry knowledge but we have no claims that it is comprehensive or exhaustive.
• If you feel overwhelmed by a long list of choices, conduct a thorough audit of your current channel mix. Identify any gaps and explore untapped markets where certain OTAs could be valuable sources.
• Not all OTAs however will want to work with your hotel directly. It could be because they are currently sourcing inventory for hotels in your region through another provider who is already working with you (think Expedia or Hotelbeds). Sometimes it may be because they just don’t have enough volume for your destination. Always worth finding out more…

Etstur (Turkey): Etstur is a leading online travel agency in Turkey, offering a wide range of travel services, including flights, hotels, holiday packages, and more. Established in 1996, Etstur has grown to become one of the largest and most trusted OTAs in the Turkish market. Etstur caters to both domestic and international travellers, providing a comprehensive range of travel solutions to meet the diverse needs of its customers.

Otelz (Turkey): Otelz is a prominent online hotel booking platform in Turkey, offering a vast selection of accommodation options across the country and beyond. Launched in 2011, Otelz has quickly become a go-to destination for Turkish travellers seeking the best deals on hotels, resorts, and other lodging options. Otelz also offers additional travel-related services, such as car rentals and airport transfers.

Tatilbudur (Turkey): Tatilbudur is a prominent online travel agency in Turkey, specialising in providing affordable and convenient travel solutions to its customers. Established in 2004, the platform offers a wide range of travel services, including flights, hotels, holiday packages, and more. Tatilbudur is known for its focus on delivering the best value for money, with a wide selection of budget-friendly travel options and regular promotional campaigns.

Tatilsepeti (Turkey): Tatilsepeti is one of the largest and most well-known online travel agencies in Turkey, offering a comprehensive range of travel services, including flights, hotels, holiday packages, and more. Launched in 2001, the platform has grown to become a trusted destination for Turkish travellers seeking the best deals on their vacations.

Enuygun (Turkey): Enuygun is a leading online travel search and booking platform in Turkey, providing users with the ability to compare and book flights, hotels, and other travel-related services. Established in 2007, Enuygun has become a popular choice among Turkish travellers for its ability to aggregate and display the most competitive prices from a wide range of providers. Enuygun’s position as a metasearch engine has also allowed it to offer a unique and convenient travel booking experience to its customers.

Wego (UAE): Wego is a successful metasearch company in the Middle East, with a strong presence in the GCC region, particularly in Saudi Arabia. In 2022, Wego bought the Saudi based OTA Flyin.com from Cleartrip. While primarily operating as a metasearch platform, Wego has also expanded into the online travel agency (OTA) space, offering users the ability to search, compare, and book flights, hotels, and other travel-related products. The company’s strong brand recognition and extensive travel inventory have made it a popular choice among travellers in the GCC markets, who appreciate the platform’s ability to provide a comprehensive and convenient travel booking experience.

Rehlat (Kuwait): Rehlat is a leading online travel agency based in Kuwait, with offices across Kuwait, UAE, India, and Egypt. Established as a subsidiary of Ahmed Al Bader Tourism & Travel, Rehlat is focused on serving the travel needs of customers in Kuwait and the broader GCC region. Rehlat is known for its user-friendly interface, competitive pricing, and extensive inventory of travel options catering to both domestic and international travellers within the GCC market.

Almosafer (Saudi Arabia): Almosafer is a leading Saudi-based online travel agency that specializes in providing hotel booking services to users in Saudi Arabia and other GCC markets. As a subsidiary of the Al Tayyar Group, Almosafer has leveraged its parent company’s expertise and resources to become a dominant player in the Saudi travel industry. Tajawal is a subsidiary. The platform offers a wide selection of hotels, competitive pricing, and a user-friendly booking experience, catering to the growing demand for online travel services within the Kingdom and the surrounding region.

Hoojoozat (Lebanon): Hoojoozat.com is an online travel agency based in Beirut, Lebanon, offering over 35,000 hotels in more than 120 countries. As part of the Nakhal & Cie group, a prominent travel and tourism company in Lebanon, Hoojoozat has established itself as a leading OTA in the Lebanese market, with a focus on serving both domestic and international travellers.

Musafir (UAE): Musafir is an online travel agency based in the UAE, offering a wide range of travel services, including flights to over 3,000 destinations and hotel stays in more than 85,000 properties around the world. The platform is operated by Universal Travels & Tourism LLC, a prominent travel and tourism company in the UAE. Musafir has a strong focus on serving customers from the Indian subcontinent and the GCC region.

Almatar (Saudi Arabia): Almatar is a new Saudi-based online travel agency that provides a wide range of travel services and resources to customers in Saudi Arabia and beyond. The platform offers booking options for flights, hotels, and other travel-related products, as well as travel information and guides to help users plan their trips. As a relatively new player in the Saudi travel market, Almatar is focused on leveraging the growing demand for online travel services within the Kingdom and the surrounding GCC region, while providing a user-friendly and comprehensive travel booking experience for its customers.