Istanbul Hotel API
Safaryar Holidays handled 65,280 passengers from the MENA region in 2025, a 52 percent increase, while the typical stay shortened from 4.3 to 3.8 nights across its 257 direct-contract hotels.
A shorter stay is not weaker demand, it is a different trip. MENA travelers now treat Istanbul as a repeatable short break rather than a once-in-a-decade holiday.”— Alper Tekin, Founder of Safaryar Holidays
Safaryar Holidays, a destination management company based in Istanbul that also operates as a wholesale hotel supplier, has disclosed its 2025 operational metrics. The firm served 65,280 guests from the Middle East and North Africa — a 52 percent gain compared to 2024 — while the average length of stay contracted from 4.3 nights to 3.8 nights.
These two indicators together suggest a fundamental change in how MENA tourists utilize Istanbul: increased frequency but reduced duration. Even though the average stay dropped by around 12 percent, the total number of passenger nights managed by the company climbed by roughly 34 percent year-on-year, from about 184,900 to 248,000.
Safaryar Holidays is a business-to-business DMC that provides contracted hotel inventory, ground transfers, MICE services, and inbound tour packages across Türkiye to travel agencies worldwide. Established in Istanbul in 2018 and operating under Sindibad Turizm Ticaret Anonim Şirketi, the company collaborates with 370 partner agencies and maintains direct contracts with 257 hotels in Istanbul, Ankara, and Van.
Accommodation demand was concentrated in the upper-midscale category. In 2025, 62 percent of passengers stayed in four-star properties, 22 percent in five-star, and 16 percent in three-star — equating to roughly 40,500, 14,400, and 10,400 guests respectively.
Ground transport data indicates that travelers are upgrading their experiences rather than their room tiers. Among five-star guests, 28 percent selected a VIP transfer, while 48 percent of four-star guests used the company’s shared shuttle service — approximately 4,000 and 19,400 passengers respectively.
"A shorter stay is not weaker demand, it is a different trip," said Alper Tekin of Safaryar Holidays. "MENA travelers are treating Istanbul as a repeatable short break rather than a once-in-a-decade holiday, and that changes how agencies should package the destination."
Shorter stays compress operational timelines. Confirmations, transfers, and tour scheduling all move closer to the arrival date, increasing the importance of instant confirmation over manual rate inquiries. Safaryar provides agencies with three connection methods — a B2B portal, an OTA-compatible XML and RESTful API, and an embeddable white-label booking engine — each offering real-time availability and instant confirmation across its contracted inventory.
The company delivers support in five languages, including Arabic, Turkish, English, and Russian, and merges its own directly negotiated rates with inventory from tier-1 global wholesalers. Partnership models include net rates, commissionable rates, allotment deals, and credit-based accounts.
Safaryar Holidays also runs digital heritage projects covering Istanbul landmarks such as Hagia Sophia, Galata Tower, and Eyüp Sultan Mosque, giving travelers destination information before they arrive.
Travel agencies can sign up for access with no obligation, and technology partners may request API documentation for direct integration.
Alper Tekin
Safaryar Holidaysı
email us here
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
