TOUR operators have been offering Russians significant discounts on package tours, according to a report in the Hürriyet daily on Sunday.

Although Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik claimed at a tourism fair in Moscow recently Russians would not be granted discounts, such a practice is being implemented by Turkish hotels and travel agencies, according to various Russian tour operators.

The discounts have resulted in prices for weekly package tours falling on average by 15 to 20 percent compared to last year, according to one tour operator, who said the average price for a Russian couple for a weekly vacation averages $1,147, down from $1,473 last year.

Turkey does not offer the highest discounts to attract Russian tourists, according to the report.

The Balkan republic of Montenegro offers discounts of 40 percent, while Bulgaria and Greece are slashing prices for Russians by 34.8 and 30 percent, respectively.

Western sanctions on trade with Russia followed by self-imposed Russian embargoes of Western goods in conjunction with plunging global oil prices dealt a major blow to the Russian ruble, especially as the dollar gained in strength against major currencies.

Antalya is Turkey’s most popular tourist destination and is a favorite for Russians. The number of Russians visiting Turkey has increased every year since 2010.