Turkey Remains on Track to Set New Tourism Record

According to data released by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, foreign tourist arrivals in Turkey in the month of November increased by 2.61% year-on-year to reach 2.8 million people. This leaves Turkey all but certain to surpass its previous annual record of total foreign visitors.

Strong Year-to-Date Tourism Performance

In the January to November period, the total number of foreign visitors increased by 0.03% compared with the same period last year, reaching 50.06 million people. On an annualised basis, total foreign arrivals reached 53.5 million travellers – above last year’s record of 52.6 million.

Russia and Germany Lead Tourism Markets

According to the data, Russia and Germany remained Turkey’s largest tourism markets in November, emphasising the importance of European and Eurasian travel demand. Arrivals from Russia rose by 10.25% year-on-year, while visitor numbers from Germany increased by 9.93%. Iran ranked third among visitor markets during the month of November.

These figures show Turkey’s international appeal across leisure, cultural, and year-round tourism segments – supported by competitive pricing, improved air connectivity, and a mix of destinations including Istanbul, the Mediterranean coast, Cappadocia, and the Aegean coast

Turkey’s Ambitious Targets for 2025

Turkey aims to attract 65 million total visitors in 2025, including Turkish citizens living abroad. This would represent an increase from the 62.3 million total visitors last year. Data from the United Nations World Tourism Organization shows that Turkey ranked as the fourth-most visited country in the world last year.

The Importance of Tourism to Turkey

Tourism plays a crucial role in the Turkish economy. The sector contributes around 10% of gross domestic product (GDP) and accounts for approximately 5% of total employment in the country, making it one of the most strategically important industries.

Tourism income increased by 8.3% in 2024 to reach $61.1 billion USD, surpassing the previous record of $54.3 billion USD in 2023. This year, revenues surpassed $50 billion USD in the first nine months, which is a 5.7% year-on-year increase.