TURKISH tourism has taken another knock today with two major players easing back services.

BA has cancelled its October allocation of flights to Bodrum, it has confirmed to Voices exclusively.

Following complaints from a number of readers about cancelled flights in October – a popular month for British holidaymakers – Voices made contact with BA’s PR team.

In a brief statement, the flight operator said: “(BA) can confirm that we have cancelled our Bodrum servicing completely between October 1 and October 29.

“In line with commercial demand, we will be adjusting the number of services on some of our routes this summer.

“Tenerife, Dubrovnik and Verona were particularly popular leisure destinations last summer so we are pleased to be able to add extra flights to these holiday hotspots.”

Tour operator pulls out

Mark Warner has become the latest travel company to pull back from Turkey after deciding to cancel its programme at the Sea Garden Beach Resort in Bodrum, TTG Travel reports.

The tour operator’s decision to end operations follows capacity cuts to the country from the likes of Thomas Cook as well as stopover cancellations from several cruise lines.

Mark Warner, which has offered holidays to Turkey for six years, is in the process of contacting guests and offering alternative travel destinations.

Managing director David Hopkins said: “Mark Warner has enjoyed a long and happy history of offering holidays to Turkey, but the time is right for us to leave for the time being. We certainly hope to return in the future.”

The resort hosted the Advantage Conference in May last year.

A statement on its website said: “Mark Warner has taken the decision that we will not be operating to Sea Garden Beach Resort, Bodrum, Turkey, for the summer season 2016. We have enjoyed a long and happy history of offering holidays to Turkey and hope to return in the future.

“We have various other holiday options in Rhodes, Kos, and Lemnos in Greece, Sardinia and Corsica all with the same Mark Warner services, facilities and activities our customers have come to expect over the last 40 years.”