The Development of the Tourism Sector in Turkey

The Development of the Tourism Sector in Turkey

The revenues from tourism in Turkey increased by 13.1% to $20.23 billion in the third quarter of the current year (from July to the end of September), reflecting the continued strong trend in this vital sector to help bridge the current account deficit.

This is according to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute released on Tuesday.

Revenues had surged by 53.4% in the previous year compared to the year before, reaching a record level of $46.28 billion, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic waned and the war in Ukraine led to an increase in Russian tourists.

The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported last month that the country had received 36,754,000 tourists in the first eight months of the current year.

The statement also pointed out that the first 8 months of the year saw a 14% increase in the number of tourists compared to the same period in the previous year.

Russian tourists topped the list with 4,351,254 visitors, followed by Germans with 4,082,994, while the English ranked third with 2,652,188 visitors.

The Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance had set a goal of receiving 60 million foreign tourists in 2023 and increasing tourism revenues to $56 billion in the current year. The country also aims to receive 90 million tourists in 2028 and raise tourism revenues to $100 billion.

The Turkish government places great importance on the tourism sector and continuously works to develop it, as it is one of the most significant economic sectors and a vital source of national income. The sector benefits from strong infrastructure and tourist facilities and services that have made it globally competitive.