Türkiye welcomes nearly 50 million visitors in nine months

During the first nine months of 2024, Türkiye has welcomed 49.2 million visitors, marking a record-breaking year for the country’s tourism industry, reads a press release. 

With a nine per cent increase in visitor numbers and a seven per cent rise in revenue over last year, Türkiye is set to surpass its target of 60 million visitors by year-end.

At a press conference in Istanbul, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy reported the country’s third-quarter results, which included a total revenue for 2024 of $46.9 billion USD to date. 

Average daily spending per international visitor also rose to $107 USD. “The results achieved in the first nine months are the highest Türkiye has ever seen,” Ersoy said.
“We are now raising our year-end target to 61 million visitors.”

Istanbul & Antalya lead growth

Türkiye’s main tourism hubs, Istanbul and Antalya, each saw notable growth, attracting visitors worldwide. Istanbul, the country’s largest city, welcomed more than 14 million international visitors, a seven per cent increase. 

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Visitors flocked to Istanbul’s iconic attractions, including the Historic Peninsula, Taksim, Karaköy, and the scenic Bosphorus, which connects Europe and Asia. Antalya, known as Türkiye’s tourism capital, received more than 13.3 million visitors, maintaining its lead in the eastern Mediterranean.

Steady growth from key markets

Türkiye’s core tourism markets — Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom — showed consistent growth, contributing significantly to visitor numbers, the ministry said. 

More than 5.5 million Russians visited Türkiye from January to September, a six per cent increase. German travellers also increased by six per cent, with over 5.2 million choosing Türkiye. The UK market saw even greater growth, with 3.7 million visitors, representing a 17 per cent increase.

Türkiye also achieved its highest growth rate from China, welcoming more than 312,000 Chinese visitors, an 84 per cent increase from last year. 

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